WEXFORD'S selectors have been forced to leave a vacancy at left wing back on the team announced to face Limerick in Sunday's Guinness All-Ireland hurling final.

The decision has been brought about by Sean Flood's leg injury, which has yet to clear satisfactorily. The player, who has had to miss most of the training since the semi-final defeat of Galway, is now perilously close to missing the biggest day in the county's hurling history since 1977.

It is not expected that a final decision will be made until Saturday morning, according to Wexford's PRO Pat Murphy. Flood is expected to be given every possible chance to recover in time and, `AN Other' will be listed in the match programme.

That aside, there is little of note in the selection which follows exactly the line-out named for the Galway match with the exception of left wing back.

Speculation on who will fill the vacancy should the unfortunate Flood miss out abounds. The most popular assumption is that veteran George O'Connor, now in his 18th championship year, will come in amidst similar re-arrangements to those made in the semi-final when his brother John had to be carried off after a challenge by Joe Rabbitte.

Although George initially took the place of his brother - who had switched with Flood from corner-back to mark the towering Galway player - George O'Connor later moved to midfield, with Larry O'Gorman dropping back to the wing back position that he had filled for most of his career up until this season.

Given that the Limerick midfield is a fairly physical unit. O'Connor would in all likelihood end up there akin.

There are ether options for manager Liam Griffin which could involve the introduction of either a forward or a defender. A straight swap could see Shane Carley come in at wing back, although he played during the county's League run as a corner back.

Alternatively, Paul Finn - who came on as a substitute against Galway - could be introduced to the attack, with Rory McCarthy dropping back to renew his midfield partnership from the League with Adrian Fenlon, and O'Gorman reverting to wing back. Team captain Martin Storey could also move to midfield, although his loss to the attack would have to be carefully considered.

Like fellow veteran George O'Connor, Billy Byrne has played in all the matches to date, always being introduced as a substitute. Byrne has struck a couple of important goals - against Kilkenny and Galway - but has been a fairly specialist reserve full-forward and isn't that likely to be drafted in from the start.

One possible change to the starting line-up that may have been considered is at right corner-forward. Eamonn Scallan was substituted after only 20 minutes of the semi-final, having endured a miserable opening quarter. In Wexford's excellent press information pack, Scallan, by way of explanation, names Galway's Tom Helebert as his most difficult opponent. However, Scallan starts on Sunday.