Clare v Antrim, Cusack Park - Two teams who may not - for widely divergent reasons - trouble the later stages of the NHL. Clare's experimental line-up is notable for the switch of Brian Quinn to full forward, as well as the introduction of a couple of fringe players pending the return of the Clarecastle contingent. Antrim are also coping with defeat in last weekend's All-Ireland club replays and it is at present unclear whether the Dunloy players will line out. Antrim hurling is at a bit of a low at the moment and all of Sean McGuinness's proven powers of motivation will be needed to keep the Ulster team afloat in this division.

Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park - Dublin took encouragement from the counties' Oireachtas semi-final in that they were understrength and yet gave a good account of themselves against a strong Galway side. Cyril Farrell has attracted much attention by the consistency of his recent selections and it looks as if the Connacht champions may be about to run with a settled team.

Dublin give a start to a few youngsters, welcome back Liam Walsh and confine Shiner Brennan to the bench amidst some rumblings of discontent. Not at all, according to manager Michael O'Grady who reckons Brennan will take the pitch at some stage. Sooner rather than later is the betting as the home team look to have their work cut out in this one.

Offaly v Limerick, Birr - Two teams in much need of recharging and both with new managers entrusted with the task. Neither Eamonn Cregan nor Babs Keating are radically reshuffling personnel, although Cregan has enticed Pa Carey out of retirement and Keating must plan without the Birr players this side of the All-Ireland club final. There are other similarities: both are missing centrefielders (Johnny Pilkington, Birr and Sean O'Neill, hamstring injury) and both attacks look a bit below-par. Gary Kirby takes a fitness test before playing but despite that, Limerick are marginally favoured.

Division One BCork v Kilkenny, Pairc Ui Chaoimh - An interesting meeting between two teams on the verge of a critical season. Kilkenny's preparations have been dominated by DJ Carey's retirement and how the team copes with that is probably going to be the main interest in their early matches. Kevin Fennelly's first NHL selection raised a few eyebrows, but a new manager and a team in need of direction were always going to give rise to experimentation.Cork's time for experiment is fast receding. Jimmy Barry-Murphy says that this is his first-choice team and at the start of his third year, he will be looking for consistency in the team's performance. Cork's forwards look more convincing and this could be the key.Wexford v Laois, Gorey - Wexford's League started badly last year and only picked up momentum when it was too late. Rory Kinsella introduces a couple of new faces but also gives Billy Byrne a start - hardly a championship stratagem. Under Padraig Horan, Laois need to rediscover the form and belief that hummed around the county during Babs Keating's first year. Even he wasn't able to disrupt the Laois cycle of alternating good Leagues with woeful championships and vice versa. They're due a good campaign but Wexford have been moving purposefully of late and look the better choice here.Tipperary v Waterford, Thurles - Waterford's reasonable NHL campaign last year didn't preface a great championship improvement, but Gerald McCarthy is happy with progress which includes a good win in the South East League final against Cork. Tipperary are trying out some new players and are understrength because of injury. In the circumstances, Waterford are well positioned for a morale-lifting win in Thurles.Division Two The top two teams in each section play a semi-finals and final format to determine the Division Two champions, who are then promoted in place of the losers of a play-off between the bottom teams in Divsion One A and B. As Ulster champions with a young, developing team, Down will be hard to beat but the system is so tight that any slip-ups will be severely punished. Important year also for Roscommon and new manager Michael Conneely who will be anxious to improve on recent League form and banish memories of last year's Connacht final debacle. Leinster counties Meath, Westmeath and Carlow will also be involved at the finish as will London who will have gained experience from last season's struggle in the old Division Two.