Ever the media enthusiast, Luke Dempsey stirred the pot this week by calling for a vigilant approach from referee Vincent Neary against what he described as Laois' enhanced physicality since Liam Kearns became manager.
Good. If Laois are ever to make the next step and become genuine All-Ireland contenders, they need some additional muscle mass. Lord knows they have the talent. The bite has always been there too, it's just that the elite football counties have always been able to impose themselves on Laois as legs begin to tire.
Longford's Brian Kavanagh has the potential to become one of the game's great forwards, while the supporting cast of Trevor Smullen and Paul Barden, in particular, should ensure a decent contest.
Still, Laois have too much depth and experience to be defeated here. Tom Kelly guarantees solidity at full back as does Darren Rooney at centre back - providing he recovers from a groin problem.
The inclusion of Brendan Quigley, Noel Garvan and Pádraig Clancy means they can alternate the attacking and midfield duties. And that trio should ensure a steady enough supply line for Ross Munnelly, Chris Conway, Beano McDonald and the underage sensation, MJ Tierney. There are also options such as Donie Brennan and Colm Parkinson on the bench.
See? Too many face cards.
LAOIS: F Byron; C Ryan, T Kelly, J Higgins; P McMahon, D Rooney, B McCormack; B Quigley, N Garvan; R Munnelly, C Conway, P Clancy; MJ Tierney, P Lawlor, B McDonald.
LONGFORD: D Sheridan; D Brady, D Masterson, D G Reilly; S Mulligan, D Hannify, N Farrell; B McElvaney, L Keenan; T Smullen, P Barden, P Dowd; D Barden, K Mulligan, B Kavanagh.
Referee: V Neary (Mayo).
This is all about Kerry. Granted, the game is a milestone in the Waterford players' careers and marks the 50th anniversary of the last time Kerry were beaten in Deise-land.
RTÉ pencilled in this for live viewing probably on the premise that Páidí Ó Sé
would be sending a Clare team into battle against his native land (and three nephews), but that plan disintegrated when Waterford recorded a first championship victory in 19 years.
There is no denying the ultra-professional approach adopted by Kerry since losing to Armagh in 2002 and Tyrone in 2003. While they have undoubtedly helped to modernise Gaelic football, it's understandable if they lack the passion today that is a prerequisite to retaining the All-Ireland.
This is the problem with Munster. While the aforementioned Ulster duo have been hardened by typically hectic Ulster dogfights, Kerry have today and then, in all likelihood, Cork.
Not that rookie manager Pat O'Shea would be overly enamoured with slipping into a qualifier draw that already includes Armagh and Mayo, with Tyrone or Donegal to follow. No, unlike last year, the straight path to September seems more convenient.
What's most notable about O'Shea's team is its familiarity. Yes, Pádraig Reidy and Killian Young provide fresh blood in each defensive line, but the four men around them possess a wealth of experience, never mind silverware.
Michael Quirke's arrival in midfield alongside Darragh Ó Sé ensures a powerful combination that is perhaps overdue. It is the only unforced departure by O'Shea from the Jack O'Connor blueprint.
A substantial winning margin is expected, but to what benefit?
KERRY: D Murphy; P Reidy, T O'Sullivan, M Ó Sé; T Ó Sé, A O'Mahony, K Young; D Ó Sé, M Quirke; D O'Sullivan, E Brosnan, P Galvin; C Cooper, K Donaghy, MF Russell.
WATERFORD: T Wall; J Walsh, T O'Gorman, S Briggs; J Phelan, E Rockett, P Ogle; M Ahearne, G Hurney; J Hurney, A Hubbard, G Power; W Hennessy, B Wall, L O'Lionain.
Referee: G Ó Connamha (Galway).
When the Munster football championship was described as an "organ of discrimination" in The Irish Times GAA magazine a few weeks ago this was the sort of fixture in mind. Cork's superiority looks so evident here that Tipperary could possibly find some legal grounds to contest it.
They did come famously close to beating Cork in the Munster final five years ago, but the winning margin in the replay - 19 points - probably reflects the current difference in class and ability between the teams. Tipperary did give Cork a good contest in the Munster under-21 final two months ago, but at senior level Cork remain head and shoulders above Tipperary.
Cork, in fact, are increasingly fancied to defend their Munster title and press hard for All-Ireland honours. There is one enforced change from the 13-point win over Limerick a fortnight ago, with goalkeeper Alan Quirke ruled out with a dislocated shoulder and Paddy O'Shea making his debut instead.
Otherwise, Cork look set to pick up where they left off against Limerick, with James Masters and Donncha O'Connor sure to inflict damage on the scoreboard. The 6ft 7in full forward Michael Cussen didn't score the last day, but presented himself as a real threat, and is surely about to make a real name for himself.
Tipperary still boast one of the best forwards in the country in their own pride and joy, Declan Browne. But Cork, in reality, will be using this game as the final tune-up for their likely meeting with Kerry in the Munster final.
CORK: P O'Shea; M Shields, G Canty, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane, A Lynch; D Kavanagh, N Murphy; C McCarthy, P O'Neill, K McMahon; J Masters, M Cussen, D O'Connor.
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; M O'Brien, P King, M Phelan; P Morrissey, C Maher, E Connolly; P Johnston, G Hannigan; B Mulvihill, H Coughlan, W Wallace; D O'Brien, D Browne, B Grogan.
Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).
Here we go again. After more than two and an half hours of football these teams look as inseparable as ever, and it would take a brave man to predict the definite outcome here.
Here goes it.
Last Sunday's replay in Parnell Park was as tightly balanced as the championship has ever produced, and no one present was surprised when it went to extra-time - nor when Wicklow forced the second replay at the death with a point from Thomas Walsh.
Perhaps some of the football was a little shaky and the quality of shooting was at times unbearable, but it proved an epic contest nonetheless, both teams loaded with determination to win.
Not surprisingly, both managers have gone with the same starting 15 as last Sunday.
Louth's Eamonn McEneaney was full of praise for his team, and is still adamant they've yet to play their best football. They did, after all, hit 20 wides last Sunday.
Wicklow must be among the very fittest teams in the country, especially their defenders. It's taken a lot of hard work to bang them into that kind of shape, and tiredness will inevitably set in at some stage.
If that can be deferred for another week or so, if Mick O'Dwyer can provide one further moment of inspiration, and if they really do believe in themselves, then Wicklow can secure a championship win at Croke Park.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, A Page; R Finnegan, P McGinnity, J Carr; P Keenan, R Carroll; C Grimes, M Brennan, M Stanfield; A Hoey, S Lennon, D Clarke.
WICKLOW: B Norman; C Hyland, D Power, A Byrne; JP Dalton, D Ó hAnnaidh, P Dalton; J Stafford, T Walsh; P Earls, L Glynn, J Slattery; T Gill, D Jackman, T Hannon.
Referee: P Hughes (Armagh).
Antrim bring in four debutants to face a Derry side missing their main forward, Paddy Bradley, who despite winning a reprieve for this match is not named in the panel.
Experienced goalkeeper and former All Star nominee Seán McGreevy returns to goal after a couple of championships out and last year's highly-rated minor Justin Crozier (a relative of Derry manager Paddy) is expected to line out at centre back - although he is named on the wing - where his ball playing abilities can be creatively harnessed. That still leaves Derry play-maker Conleth Gilligan needing specialist marking and it remains to be seen if someone gets a special detail to take care of this.
There looks to be a bit of energy in this Antrim side, but the reservations lie in attack where they look likely to struggle for scores against a practised Derry defence.
The visitors are behind schedule in making a serious challenge to break the Armagh-Tyrone duopoly in the province. They'll need Bradley back before they deliver on that, but they should get out of this.
ANTRIM: S McGreevy; T Scullion, P Doherty, K O'Boyle; S McVeigh, G Bell, J Crozier; J Quinn, M McCann; A Gallagher, K Niblock, J Loughrey; CJ McGourty, K Brady, P Cunningham
DERRY: B Gillis; M McGoldrick, K McCloy (capt), G O'Kane; P Cartin, SM Lockhart, C McKeever; F Doherty, J Conway; B McGoldrick, C Gilligan, J Diver; R Wilkinson, E Muldoon, M Lynch.
Referee: C Reilly (Meath).
Before last week's semi-final replay, Antrim were looking overwhelmingly likely to win this, but Down's disposal, including a hat-trick for Gareth Johnson, of Derry after a laboured draw the week previously suggests the challengers have found their rhythm.
Terence McNaughton brings a few new faces for the champions and partly in consequence they have an experienced bench. Antrim are back in the MacCarthy Cup where their performances in recent years have been very disappointing, but they have traditionally been able for this and should claim their sixth successive title.
ANTRIM: R McGarry; M Kettle, M McCambridge, S Delargy (capt); M Molloy, J Campbell, C Herron; B Herron, K McKeegan; P McGill, N McManus, M Herron; S McCrory, J McIntosh, P Shields
DOWN: TBA.
