Any game involving Waterford is hard to call but this year represents their best opportunity to win the All-Ireland.

Ability-wise they are arguably the best team in the country.

Mentally they are further down the pecking order, although the Croke Park hoodoo appears to have been buried with the quarter-final victory over Tipperary.

In their first day out against Tipperary back in June, Waterford's vulnerabilities were exposed but they arrived at that juncture decimated by injury and suspension. In fairness, manager Justin McCarthy had already instilled a player mindset that the qualifiers was the route.

Without hitting a peak, they have reached an acceptable level of consistency in overcoming Galway and Tipperary.

Cork are yet to be really tested and, on pure form, have been poor but tomorrow their title is on the line. The Clare match, although a solid performance, came with a safety net. Limerick wouldn't be contenders but if the quarter-final had gone on any longer they would have won.

Cork were primed for a big performance against Clare back in May but they have since gone backwards. Maybe it's a hunger issue. Maybe fatigue. Other problems have hampered their progress, like the fitness of Ben O'Connor.

No new players have come through to freshen up the panel. Even Neil Ronan's effectiveness as an impact substitute is no longer an option as he has established himself in the starting line-up. There is precious little back-up behind the first XV.

Manager John Allen will hope the Limerick scare can provide the required kick up the backside because if Cork's graph continues on its present downward descent, since the Clare game, Waterford will end the three-in-a-row dream.

Cork's banker half-back line, where at least two from Ronan Curran, John Gardiner and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín always produce the goods, may not be such a trump card tomorrow.

Curran has been outstanding all season but Ó hAilpín has been off his best form. This two-from-three theory will need to change against Séamus Prendergast, Eoin McGrath and leading contender for player of the year Dan Shanahan. Containment will be the order of the day.

I expect Seán Óg to shadow Shanahan. Former Cork manager Donal O'Grady already admitted it was an error to start John Gardiner on Shanahan in the 2004 Munster final in Thurles. Dan was devastating in racking up 1-3 before half-time.

Shanahan is almost impossible to mark in his present mood. This is the litmus test as JJ Delaney collared him at this stage two years ago. SeáÓg and JJ provide a near identical challenge. The Waterford forward will need to move up another gear.

Another key battle is down the other end where Cork will attempt to stymie the dominance of Ken McGrath. Niall McCarthy did it last year and he will provide a hugely contrasting challenge to Tipperary's Francis Devanney.

McCarthy has yet to hit form this season but Sunday is as good a time as any. Contain McGrath and the Waterford full-back line can be exploited. Cork's inside forwards could provide the trump card.

Eoin Kelly also impressed the last day against Tipperary. He actually had a poor game but his endeavour and refusal to resort to any acts of petulance, despite obvious frustration, displayed a hurler nearing full maturity.

Then there is the swashbuckling Michael Walsh at midfield. If all these components click, Waterford can finally arrive at hurling's top table.

On any given day Waterford can beat whatever is put in front of them. Cork have been sneaking through matches of late but they remain a fantastic team.

History urges caution in tipping a winner. Considering Waterford defeated Cork in the National League at Páirc Uí Rinn, and have scalped them twice in recent championship meetings, I'm tempted to edge towards a surprise victory.

That's the heart speaking, though. When this contest is rationally examined I must, with no great confidence, plump for Cork to edge into a fourth consecutive All-Ireland final.

Either way I expect a game to define this year's hurling championship. This, of course, is on the premise that the real Waterford hurlers stand up.