There are strong indications that Lar Corbett will return to the Tipperary side for Saturday’s potentially season-defining meeting with Galway at Semple Stadium.

The 2010 hurler of the year struggled with a knee injury pre-championship, missing the end of the National League campaign, and was only deemed fit enough to feature off the bench in the hugely disappointing defeat to Limerick on June 1st.

Corbett, now 33, arrived on 55 minutes and contributed a point in the 2-18 to 2-16 defeat. That result sends Eamonn O’Shea’s troops back into Semple, for Sky’s highest profile fixture yet, against an equally under-performing Galway, following their comprehensive loss to Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final replay last Saturday night in Tullamore.

Two-year tenure

Another loss would leave O’Shea’s two-year tenure in ruins, devoid of a championship victory from four outings against Limerick (twice), Kilkenny and Galway.

Corbett has come through three club matches with Thurles Sarsfields unscathed and will almost certainly play a sustained role on Saturday night. O’Shea names his team this evening.

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham kept the paying public in the dark until a few minutes before defeat to Kilkenny in Tullamore when he revealed the inclusion of Paul Killeen, Joseph Cooney and Jonathan Glynn.

Joe Canning started in a deep role before moving in on top of JJ Delaney, who coped with his height and power, ably assisted by Jackie Tyrrell, and eventually, despite a thrilling sideline cut, Canning exiled himself out on the wing.

Brian Cody usually releases the Kilkenny team on Friday nights.