Kilkenny's stand in manager Billy Walsh was struggling yesterday to put a squad together for this afternoon's trip to the Brandywell after the FAI turned down an appeal by the club to have the game postponed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"People may think that it's just because of our problems at the moment," he said, "but the fact is that the Kilkenny hurlers went up there at the weekend and it didn't go down too well with some people around here and now it seems that, after not being able to play our games when the disease wasn't in the country, we're being told to go up there and play when they do have a problem with the thing."

Walsh added that his attempt to raise a panel was not helped by the fact that some of the young amateurs recently signed by the club work amongst the farming community which was making it more difficult to secure their availability.

The upshot is that, with Derek McGrath and Robbie Brunton both suspended and Warren Parkes, Ray Carolan and Gavin Wilkinson all out injured for the rest of the season, Walsh expects to start himself this evening and have very little back up to call on from the bench.

Derry, meanwhile, will be without Liam Coyle, who is still suffering from a knee ligament injury, while Paul Hegarty continues to improve but may miss out again after failing to fully shake off a calf strain.

Last two seasons: 1999/2000: Did not meet; 2000/2001: Kilkenny 0 Derry 2, Kilkenny 0 Derry 1.

Recent league form: Derry: L L L W L; Kilkenny: L L L L L.

Leading scorers: Derry: Doherty (six); Kilkenny: McGrath (two).

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).