Only two matches to go in this year's Guinness All-Ireland hurling championship and, in the eyes of many, the last champions of the millennium are likely to be whoever survives tomorrow's semi-final between Clare and Kilkenny.

This view probably underestimates the distance that Cork will continue to travel as they prepare for next month's final but it is a forgivable conclusion.

At their best, Clare have looked the most imposing blend of experience, power and craft in the championship whereas Kilkenny have rifled in 11 goals in two matches - including peppering outgoing champions Offaly with five in the Leinster final.

Assessments of their overall worth have understandably been side-tracked by this firepower and the improvement wrought in their attack since last year. Co-incidentally, theories of improved capacity up front have also been floated in relation to Clare whose six goals over the two matches against Galway bettered the total from their previous five championship outings.

Yet the consensus is that the match will depend on who wins the confrontation between Kilkenny's forwards and Clare's backs. There are two points to be made about this. Firstly neither unit may be quite as good as their advance publicity suggests; secondly, the balance still favours Kilkenny.

This isn't to impugn the Leinster champions' attack. When the Leinster final was open, they showed sharpness and fluency in raiding for goals and there was no doubt that this was an improved unit compared to last year with the return of John Power and arrival of Henry Shefflin strengthening their hand.

Power's physical presence was a contributory factor and if it's doubtful that he can throw his weight around on Sean McMahon, neither will he be dictated to.

Shefflin is big but more characterised by his hurling than his physique. He still has to frank his credentials at this sort of level. Although he grew into the Leinster final, he was quiet at the start when the match was in the balance. Brian Lohan and Anthony Daly - his potential markers - will set the questions.

Clare's defence has been conceding larger totals this year. More worryingly, it has been losing its grip on matches for periods of play. During these lapses, both Galway and Tipperary nearly did enough to beat them - and Cork succeeded. Whereas it might be exaggerating to allege that they are, in the favoured idiom, "gone", they have certainly been giving teams more opportunities this year than previously.

Should that happen tomorrow, Kilkenny will extract a higher price than any other side.

Centrefield looks more of a guaranteed success for Clare with the reservation that this has been the case in all their matches so far. On paper Ollie Baker and Colin Lynch have an advantage over virtually every other partnership in the country but again - maybe due to Baker's various fitness difficulties - three teams have managed to circumvent this situation.

Andy Comerford had his best match for Kilkenny in the Leinster final but Denis Byrne has yet to convince in this sector at this level. This has obvious implications for the quality of supply which Kilkenny's forwards can expect.

Whereas there can be an element of certainty in considering the clash between Clare's defence and their opponents, at the other end of the pitch matters are less easy to predict. If given the opportunities, Clare's forwards can wreak considerable damage. What are Kilkenny's chances of stopping them?

Defence has been a bit of a worry for the Leinster team. Whereas they have coped without too much alarm so far, they haven't exactly been under the screw. Niall Rigney conducted a one-man campaign on Eamonn Kennedy in the provincial semi-final against Laois but, otherwise, it's been relatively plain sailing.

Kennedy went on to play well in the Leinster final but is a doubt and undergoes a fitness test tomorrow. The back-up provision is fairly convoluted. Canice Brennan, one of the best centre backs last season, is considered unlikely to move up from full back because of the lack of alternatives in that position.

Pat O'Neill, one of the best full backs last year, can't come in there because he's felt to be too slow. He could be played at centre back, but whereas that would be fine if he were marking Conor Clancy, Clare wouldn't be long dispatching someone a little speedier to the 40.

There has been some talk of Peter Barry moving over from the wing but versatile and dependable as he is, pivoting the defence might be too much of a demand on someone who has only limited experience of the role at club level. Yet for all the vulnerability, there is a technical proficiency about the six backs which gives them a good chance of coping and sending some good ball back up the field.

Jamesie O'Connor was very influential for Clare in the quarterfinal matches but has since picked up an ankle injury to go with his still rehabilitating arm. This is a bit of a concern because without him, their overall capacity is diminished.

Even if he's alright will they be at their best? Because if this match revolves around any one issue, it is Clare's consistency.

Three displays this season have been poor and two have been very good. It is the first time since 1995 that Ger Loughnane's team has gone into a championship match with more question marks hanging over them than over the opposition.

This may inspire them in a way they've found difficult to access recently but the view here is that times change and the force is with Kilkenny.