Like its Munster counterpart last week, this has similar potential for an upset - except that it wouldn't be so surprising.

It is generally accepted that Wexford were not 13 points a worse team in last year's final, but that's the way it turned out.

Since then, the teams have developed in different ways.

It was after last year's final that Wexford introduced the under-21s who became so associated with the improvement against Limerick and Tipperary.

Kilkenny's defeat by Galway prompted some extensive team building by Kilkenny, which, although validated by a league victory, hasn't been thoroughly tested at this level - a reservation recognised by the return of Charlie Carter and Brian McEvoy after a long hibernation.

So these are not really the same sides that contested last year's fixture. Like a week ago in Cork, things have to go right in a variety of areas for Wexford to have a good chance of winning.

Against Offaly last month, the Kilkenny backs were susceptible to pace and Wexford have selected their attack with that in mind.

MJ Furlong comes in for out-of-form Larry Murphy and brings similar speed, although his outing with the under-21s last week wasn't earth-shattering and he may have been carrying an injury. Barry Lambert and Mitch Jordan will do similarly in the corners.

Yet, the overall configuration isn't that straightforward. Larry O'Gorman has been playing as an old-fashioned full forward and, whereas that reduces the chances of him successfully isolating Noel Hickey, O'Gorman's goal-count is impressive.

Last season, Wexford's point-scoring tallies against decent opposition were poor and they relied on goals. The jury's out on whether that state of affairs has been remedied, although tomorrow's attack is sharper looking - especially if the reports of Jordan's form are accurate.

Consideration of the Kilkenny threat is dominated by the form of Henry Shefflin who has slipped unobtrusively into DJ Carey's role as the tormentor in chief of Kilkenny's opponents.

Should a centre back leave home and follow Shefflin, thereby creating a hole in the middle of the defence, or hold his ground?

Brian Whelahan tended to do the latter and Shefflin drifted 60/70 metres out and picked off his scores. It is likely that Declan Ruth will mark closely.

Kilkenny's newer players aren't yet proven at this level. Martin Comerford comes highly recommended and was excellent in the NHL final, but quiet against Offaly. In Darragh Ryan, he faces one of the best full backs in the game - after last week, maybe even currently the best.

If Wexford get off to an encouraging start, it's not hard to see them winning the match, but the crucial difference is more likely to be that Kilkenny's attack looks the more reliable provider of scores.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, P Larkin; R Mullally, P Barry, JJ Delaney; A Comerford (capt), D Lyng; J Hoyne, H Shefflin, B McEvoy; E Brennan, M Comerford, C Carter.

WEXFORD: D Fitzhenry; C Kehoe, D Ryan, R Mallon; L Dunne, D Ruth, D O'Connor; R McCarthy, D Stamp; MJ Furlong, A Fenlon, P Codd; B Lambert, L O'Gorman (capt), M Jordan.