There was a boost for All-Ireland hurling champions Cork at the weekend with the news that 2004 captain Ben O'Connor will be fit to take a place on the bench for the first Munster championship defence against Clare in Thurles.

O'Connor's participation in the championship had been in doubt because of a groin strain that has troubled him in recent months. Ideally, the injury requires plenty of rest, but O'Connor was involved with his club Newtownshandrum's progress to this year's All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day.

Last Saturday, however, he played for the club in a league match against Sarsfields and a day later played a full part in the county training session.

Because of a lack of match practice he is unlikely to be named on the team, but he will be available to come on at some stage of the match.

There has been much speculation about who will take O'Connor's place, including a complicated reshaping that would see Seán Ó hAilpín go to centrefield and Tom Kenny to wing forward - allowing the defence to feature both Pat Mulcahy and Wayne Sherlock.

Instead it is now believed Cian O'Connor, who has been one of the cover defenders in recent years, will start in the forwards and so disrupt the team as little as possible.

Clare will have a full pick with Tony Carmody having recovered from an injury. The counties met last year in a thrilling All-Ireland semi-final with Cork overcoming a six-point deficit in the last quarter to win in the closing minutes.