Kildare seem to be packing more punch

Laois will argue that Kildare got a poor performance out of their system in the opening round against Wicklow, so why shouldn't they be cut a bit of slack for their very disappointing defeat of Offaly.

Maybe it's a reasonable point but it's not clear where Laois are going to find the improvement.

Kildare, understrength against a very competitive Wicklow, improved considerably when beating Westmeath, whereas Laois relied on Offaly to cut their own throat with a stunning sequence of inaccuracies.

Mick O'Dwyer has cleared out half of his attack in response to the lacklustre showing last month, and in an effort to fire up his sluggish charges.

Kildare's two changes include one forced by injury and, overall, Pádraig Nolan looks to have settled his team.

Their win over the Leinster champions, Westmeath, was principally driven by the strength of their resolve when turning around an early phase that saw them well adrift on the scoreboard and a man down.

There was also a rough edge to their game that occasionally crossed the line between committed and unsavoury and, unless discipline is better, they run the risk of having to win in adversity once more.

Kildare can definitely win this. Their defence started poorly the last day, standing too far off their markers and conceding space cheaply, but they tightened up as the match progressed and they will be hard to score off tomorrow.

Their centrefield combination of Killian Brennan and Michael Foley contested well and ended up rampant. With Ronan Sweeney and Dermot Earley playing around the area, Enda Murphy has plenty of options for his kick-outs.

Laois struggled around the middle and will need to step up considerably if any sort of a shakeout of possession is to be attained. The team's penetration also needs a major improvement. Ross Munnelly was the most diligent threat to Offaly and was rewarded with the late, killer goal, but otherwise the attack was weak.

The jury's out on how much improvement the newcomers can bring to the situation. Brian "Beano" McDonald has done extraordinarily well to be back playing at Croke Park less than 11 months after his awful leg break and his pace and poise did much to bring down Kildare two years ago in the Leinster final, but he still has some way to go to regain that sort of form.

Billy Sheehan worked hard in the second half but he's a carrier rather than a scorer.

Barry Brennan scored in the 2003 Leinster final but is just back in the panel. But overall the changes look a bit speculative.

Laois haven't had a satisfying championship performance since beating Meath over a year ago, whereas Kildare have demonstrated hunger and workrate as well as reliable finishing by Tadhg Fennin and, in particular, John Doyle.

LAOIS: F Byron; A Fennelly, D Rooney, J Higgins; C Begley, T Kelly, P McMahon; P Clancy, N Garvan; R Munnelly, B Brennan, B Sheehan; C Conway, K Fitzpatrick, B McDonald.

KILDARE: E Murphy; J Lonergan, A Rainbow, A McLoughlin; M Wright, G Ryan, K Ennis; K Brennan, M Foley; D McCormack, D Earley, R Sweeney; T Fennin, R Glavin, J Doyle.

Referee: J Geaney (Cork).