Wexford v Clare: With both teams drawing encouragement from their last outings this has the makings of a great contest. Wexford almost caught Kilkenny, while Clare raised their game down in Ennis and surprised a lot of people, especially Waterford people.

Clare dug deep and were worthy winners that day so they go into tomorrow with no fear of Wexford. They will have studied the Leinster final performance and will develop a game plan to counteract it.

Tony Griffin, Alan Markham and Niall Gilligan must enforce their physical advantage on the Wexford defence. They like to carry the ball to the opposition, Griffin especially, while Gilligan has a fair turn of pace and is hard to stop.

To win, Clare need goals and the team will look to these guys to supply them. They are back in Croke Park, which is a bonus.

The Lohans, Seánie McMahon, Gilligan, Markham and Colin Lynch have grown accustomed to the place. They thrive in the environment and will relish the chance to get back to an All-Ireland semi-final.

A major weakness is pace, or lack thereof. Tracking the movements of the Wexford forwards is a difficult task. This is where Wexford are supreme. They showed in the Leinster final their speed can upset any team. They can also outhurl anyone.

Brian and Frank Lohan along with Seánie Mac have over 10 years of hurling behind them and know they cannot roll back the years. They can be turned.

Make no mistake, if Adrian Fenlon hadn't gone off injured in the Leinster final we would be seeing Kilkenny play Clare tomorrow. He was that important. If fit, Fenlon will come into direct contact with Colin Lynch in an intriguing duel. Lynch is another with plenty of mileage and has struggled to rediscover the magnificent form of previous years. He will enjoy this challenge though.

If Wexford can maintain recent standards they will prevail. As a Leinster man, I feel it would be great for the game in the province. If the likes of Mitch Jordan and Eoin Quigley can impose their running game they are irresistible. Both are fast, quality hurlers who can take scores from 60 yards out. Quigley caused Kilkenny captain Peter Barry huge problems on the 40 but moving him to midfield, when Fenlon got hurt, was a massive bonus for the opposition.

The only way they will lose is if Clare score goals. They put four past Waterford, two of which were due to goalkeeping errors. Damien Fitzhenry doesn't do errors. Wexford proved their worth by denying Kilkenny even a sniff of goals. They have two big men around the square in Doc O'Connor and Darragh Ryan. You are going to earn your salt off these boys. If you go in and threaten Fitzhenry's goal expect to be hit. Hard. Derek Lyng has been phenomenal at wing back this year while the injury to Darren Stamp meant Tommy Walsh had more room to play in the Leinster final.

I see Wexford making the semi-finals if these boys perform. A lot of people question whether they can put decent performances back to back. I think they can and should edge a close game by three or four points.