In the heady aftermath of the Guinness Munster hurling championship first round, it was hard to work out who'd done better out of it.

Limerick with their sensational win over champions Cork? Or Waterford, liberated at a stroke from the psychological tyranny Cork seem to exercise over them? Looking at the team selections for tomorrow's semi-final, the picture is ostensibly a bit clearer.

Like Cork, Waterford are weakened in the half-back line by the loss of two regulars: Stephen Frampton, injured, and Fergal Hartley, press-ganged onto the 40. At centrefield, the gifted but erratic Johnny Brenner gets another chance to partner Tony Browne against the Limerick combination that cleaned out Cork for most of the match and up front two newcomers are introduced to the full forwards to take on the unit that silenced Joe Deane and Sean McGrath.

Maybe this is too simplistic a recital of Limerick's strengths from the last day and the presumed weaknesses of Waterford. Maybe.

In Waterford's favour is that they possess one thing that neither Cork nor last week's losers Clare had, physical presence up front.

Dan Shanahan on the wing and debutant full forward Seamus Prendergast bring a bit of heft to proceedings and will present Limerick's defence with challenges they didn't face a fortnight ago.

Up front, will Limerick's tactical switches work again having been so extensively displayed? Ollie Moran ran the show at centre forward but Cork were unwontedly weak in the area and inexplicably reluctant to do anything about it. Peter Queally has the power and venom to make this a scarier theatre of operations.

This is a very tight match to call.

Waterford have their weaknesses but with Tony Browne, Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn - the difference between the teams two years ago - in full song, they never disappoint.

If they make it happen, the team will respond and it's unlikely that Limerick will be able to cope with the pressure.

Yet Limerick have their own advantage and it has frequently proved decisive. They have played a match and achieved a big win. A young side, they will have come on considerably as a result. They have the momentum that a team like Waterford, coming cold into the championship at this stage, hasn't developed. From an identity parade of potentially clinching arguments, that one will do.