Under-21 Hurling Final: Kilkenny have an awful lot going for them. The holders have an experienced, effective management, Martin Fogarty, running the show as well as the throughput from two All-Ireland winning minor teams.
They also pulled off a coup in the semi-final, bouncing from a six-point deficit, into the second half, to a five-point win over Galway. Kilkenny were quite poor when Galway were compiling that lead, but the reactions on the line worked brilliantly.
Willie O'Dwyer's switch from corner forward to the 40 broke Tony Regan's grip on the match and established a bridgehead for the Kilkenny comeback. The contest between O'Dwyer and Tipp senior Diarmaid Fitzgerald will be pivotal.
The competition for places in the champions' attack can be gauged by the selection of the two replacements, Seán O'Neill and Eoin Reid, both of whom did well on their introduction.
The team's adaptability is also an asset with Richie Power, who played so dynamically at centrefield in the semi-final, training his sights nearer to goal.
Tipperary bring back Michael Farrell and Francis Devanney, who missed the bloodless victory over Down because of injury. This gives the challengers' attack a more menacing configuration with star forward Tony Scroope going in at full forward where his tussle with John Tennyson will be another critical indicator of how the match is developing.
Scroope and Cha Fitzpatrick are accurate free-takers, although the latter will be expected to do better from play.
Tipp were unlucky last year to lose the semi-final against Galway by a point after extra-time. This time around they look a well balanced team, but no more so than the champions, who have an edge in forward power and strength-in-depth.
Nine years ago a much-fancied Kilkenny team agreed to play a final in Thurles such was the confidence of winning. It must also have been reasoned the county might at some stage in the future be glad of the home advantage. The optimism was misplaced in 1995, as Tipperary surprised the favourites. But the rest of the deal should work out to Kilkenny's advantage today.
KILKENNY: D Herity; S Maher, J Tennyson, M Fennelly; T Walsh, PJ Delaney, C Hoyne; S Hennessy, P Cleere; S O'Neill, W O'Dwyer, E Reid; J Fitzpatrick, C Phelan, R Power.
TIPPERARY: P McCormack; A Morrissey, C O'Mahony, D Walton; E Hanley, D Fitzgerald, H Moloney; J Caesar, W Cully; P Buckley, S Sweeney, F Devanney; E Sweeney, T Scroope, M Farrell.
