The Ciotóg Side: Sometimes it feels like the whole of Ireland has taken up Texas hold'em, with endless placards advertising freeze-outs and rebuys in this or that hotel.

Which or whether, the pursuit does offer a means of characterising different hurling styles. There is a poker expression where a player is said to be 'on tilt' when he plays in reckless fashion. The antithesis is those who play 'super tight', minimising risk and needless elan.

It is easy to put Waterford in the former category. Occasional indiscipline and error-ridden defending are the downsides of the instinctive and sweeping hurling they essay when at full blast. They can be an absolute joy to watch.

Two of the code's finest passages in recent years must be the Suirsiders' start against Limerick in 2001 and against Wexford in 2003. On neither occasion, though, did The Déise triumph.

Cork, by sharp contrast, keep it beautifully simple. Touch is all: touch, followed by the percentaged option.

Just as certain poker players forever eschew risky bets, so too with the Rebels. They do not always have to score goals to take matches. The emphasis, in both instances, is on marshalling consistent increments of advantage to the point where the balance tilts without ever seeming to have been pushed.

The eighth minute of the Galway-Kilkenny quarter-final demonstrated, by default, the unusual ability of this Leeside vintage. Michael Kavanagh placed a short ball down the right sideline to John Tennyson, whose attempted clearance was spoiled. An Alan Kerins point accrued.

Cork routinely manage such situations in defence with nerve, aplomb and no mean skill.

White and Blue always lose to Blood and Bandage, do they not? Or nearly always, anyway? So the decades' statistics say.

This sort of consideration, properly irrelevant, heaves into view with this sort of contest. If tradition means anything, it means never having to say you are wary. Confidence, even misplaced confidence, is the birthright of certain colours.

There is a widespread view that the Déise lack the composure to take the final couple of steps, that their remarkable potential will always be undermined by an erratic bent.

We shall see. If Sunday features the sullen crew that posted only 1-13 in last season's quarter-final, they will lose. If, however, the day involves this season's post-Munster championship outfit, one that has landed 1-25 against Galway and 1-22 against Tipperary, we should witness a rather different narrative.

The key to defeating the champions is turning the screw on their storied half-back line in two senses. First, your half-back line must establish dominance over their half-forwards. Waterford's relative success in this regard is largely due to the fact they sit deep and come on to the ball.

Crucially, Suirside's first-choice half-backs are comfortable with the sliotar on the floor. Tony Browne and Ken McGrath, who know each other's game inside out, are in flying form. Brian Phelan has a point to prove. Possibly, quite possibly, this trio will do well on Sunday. Leeside's half-forward line has been their least impressive sector in 2006.

Gaining serious possession in this area would ratchet the pressure in the second sense. If your half forwards can trouble the Gardiner-Curran-Ó hAilpín triumvirate, it causes problems for Leeside's attack to an unusual extent. Said sextet are accustomed to the placed ball, the percentaged pass. Discommoding playmakers in the back eight skews this service to powerful effect.

The overall contour? Waterford's key men seem to be running into a bit of form precisely as some of Cork's leaders, such as Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, are struggling a little.

Equally, there are ongoing doubts about two of their full-back line. Yes, they have the cojones (of whatever make). But do they have the consistent composure?

The Suirsiders are good enough. They seem to have learned to stop worrying and love their full-back line. At least they have a man to mark Joe Deane, which is more than some contenders possess. Waterford should hope not to start too well, since they have yet to learn the art of holding a lead. The contour of 2002's Munster final would be perfect.

This writer is going to go against those decades of statistics and take The Déise to come through. A significant point might well be that Justin McCarthy has greater options on the bench (especially if Paul Flynn is not started, which would be this observer's preference since Flynn trudging off, heavy of limb, would be a big lift to Rebel spirits).

There appears to be greater flexibility in White and Blue's quarter. Needs be, McGrath could go to midfield (or even into attack), thanks to Browne's ability to play at centre back.

This space would start Séamus Prendergast at full forward, with Jack Kennedy's mobility tried at centre forward. Particularly when he is struggling for fitness and form, it would be unwise to ask the Ardmore man to repeat last season's gaiscí on Curran.

Prendergast can interchange with Dan Shanahan at wing forward, further pressurising the Cork defence by drawing them out of their usual patterns. If Eoin Kelly, the ace of spades, goes well, his side really should win.

Something like 2-19 to 1-17.