Brian Cody doesn’t expect to have his injured stars back in time for the National Hurling League final against Tipperary on Sunday, butis confident most of the walking wounded are on the mend and on their way back to full fitness in time for the championship.
If Kilkenny are to reclaim the league title they will have to do it without full back Noel Hickey and midfielder Derek Lyng - who both missed the entire league campaign through injury - as well as James ‘Cha' Fitzpatrick, John Dalton and Richie Power
"Noel Hickey's situation hasn't changed too much really," Cody said today. "He sat out the league but came through and played a match last week, which is great news for us but obviously Noel's a long way away from inter-county hurling still.
"Derek Lyng, likewise, sat out the league and he is recovering from a hip operation and making good progress, but he hasn't played any match anywhere yet."
Fitzpatrick did make a brief appearance against Dublin, but a dose of the mumps has hampered him.
"Cha was out for a long, long time with sickness. He came on against Dublin and played a full match again at the weekend so he is working his way back.
"The mumps took a huge amount out of Cha to be honest and as he was recovering then he picked up a post-viral infection again as well which flattened him again for a few more weeks."
Cody will also be without defender Dalton and forward Power.
"Richie Power is unfortunate. He picked up a hamstring injury a few weeks ago and he is definitely going to be out a few more weeks with that.
"John Dalton has been out for the last while with sickness but he has worked his way back again and played a full match at the weekend, so things are not too bad but we still are going to be short some players."