All-Ireland SHC Quarter-finals:The top four teams in the betting for the All-Ireland play each other this weekend, meaning two of them will be brought to their knees.

I saw Galway play Clare down in Ennis and I was very disappointed. That was their first acid test under Ger Loughnane and they failed miserably. To have any chance of staying with Kilkenny they must produce a performance superior to anything we've seen from them since 2005. It's hard to see that materialising.

Kilkenny remain the benchmark and are worthy favourites to retain the All-Ireland, even if this is primarily based on last year's form. They were not tested in Leinster while their league form was moderate.

You can get a feel for Brian Cody's team from the league; they normally hit their championship stride before others. Now they did reach the final, but Waterford unearthed a few flaws.

Whether this is a good thing from a Galway perspective is debatable.

There is always the unknown factor about Galway, diluted somewhat by the qualifiers, but they never really get going until this time of year anyway. Still, if they produce a massive performance it will be coming right out of the blue.

I also saw them lose to Wexford in the league. Not much had changed by the time they went down to Ennis. They look to be lacking confidence and were well, unstructured. The Loughnane impact has yet to show itself.

The spine of the team is unsettled with centre back John Lee the only ever-present. The midfield personnel are constantly changing and I don't know who the full forward is. Naming the team in the huddle against Clare backfired.

It gets worse. Cody is naturally wary of a Galway surprise after defeats in 2001 and 2005. The only saving grace from a Galway perspective is Kilkenny aren't coming into this game on the rebound. No one has ruffled them yet.

Okay, they lost to Waterford in the league final but competition within the panel for places should ensure a decent display from the Cats. Tommy Walsh is still searching for his 2006 form. John Tennyson and James Ryall started the All-Ireland final but can't get into the team.

Despite this they lack freshness with Willie O'Dwyer the only new face in the forwards. Maybe the hunger that drove them through last year was sated by beating Cork. That's Galway's sole chance; that Kilkenny are not tuned in but I'd be astonished if Galway find a way past them.

On to big game number two. Waterford were hardly overjoyed by Tipperary's felling of Cork recently. Generally, they get a tough draw but having to beat Cork twice in one summer is a tall order. The Cork performance against Waterford in the Munster semi-final, without the three suspended fellas, bestowed automatic All-Ireland contender status on them.

That was somewhat premature. All the pressure was on Waterford shoulders that day - they had to win.

Cork took their foot off the pedal against Tipp and couldn't get it going again. Several other flaws also came to light.

They have now restored the tried and tested, with the retired Brian Corcoran the most notable absentee.

Kieran Murphy was not winning the amount of ball they were used to from the wounded Niall McCarthy at centre forward so Timmy McCarthy gets the nod this time.

But Waterford have addressed the weaknesses of previous campaigns. The discipline levels are vastly improved. The focus is supreme and, most importantly, their star players are performing. Dan Shanahan and John Mullane in particular.

Mullane even got over the issues he had with Brian Murphy in Thurles. Another big clash awaits there. Shanahan has traditionally not been the same player in Croker that he is in Munster. Dan will be gunning to disprove this theory. Seán Óg Ó hAilpín will be out to thwart him. Seán Óg has traditionally has had the better of that duel.

The new players - Jack Kennedy, Stephen Molumphy and Aidan Kearney - will need to confirm their learning curve is complete. I believe it is. Waterford are capable of going to an All-Ireland final and challenging Kilkenny's supremacy.

In the other games, I fancy Tipperary, Eoin Kelly or no Eoin Kelly, to continue building on their confidence-boosting victory over Cork by beating Wexford.

Clare v Limerick is a toss-up. Limerick have come on in leaps and bounds since their abject showing against Clare last year. Neither team has a wealth of scoring power so defences should hold sway. A typical local derby awaits. Clare have their tails up but Limerick's spirit may see them through.