Fresh from winning their second consecutive National Hurling League title, Limerick are being tipped for All-Ireland glory this year.

However, not all believe that John Kiely's side will easily replicate their 2018 achievement.

Speaking on Off The Ball earlier this week, Tommy Walsh categorically rejected the notion that the All-Ireland title was Limerick's to lose this year.

"No, absolutely not," he declared, listing Galway, Kilkenny and Tipperary as formidable contenders in the bid for the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Joining Friday's OTB AM, former Tipperary hurler Paddy Stapleton added his voice to the belief that John Kiely's men are not yet unflappable.

Speaking with Adrian and Eoin, Stapleton asserted his view that physicality may trump tactics when it comes to defeating Limerick this season.

"I think you have to have a certain amount of physicality," the Borris-Ileigh man explained.

"Kilkenny played them last year and, to be fair to Kilkenny, they brought an all-merciful amount of frostiness.

"I know we throw around intensity, but that was barbaric stuff in the All-Ireland semi-final last year.

"And they still only barely beat Limerick so I think you will need that."

Loaded with that physicality, Stapleton added that sides would also have to consider changing how they set up from the get-go.

"I think we will see a switch in tactic. I think every team for the last five, six years – definitely when I was playing it was there – they want to hold their backs, hold their three in the full-back line, three in the half-back line, sit your midfielders.

| You'd almost play defenders in the forward line |

Very interesting thoughts on how teams can rattle Limerick from former-Tipp star Paddy Stapleton.#OTBAM with @gilletteuk #MadeOfWhatMatters | https://t.co/4HgSCIBSZR pic.twitter.com/ArONR3jKoQ

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) November 13, 2020

"I just think Limerick are so good, they sit their full-forward line so deep, that they create an unbelievable amount of space anyway. So I think that tactic is nearly null and void.

"If I was playing cornerback against Limerick now I would tell all my players to shove right up against them. And people can say, 'that's crazy, they'll get goal chances.' But they are getting them anyway so it doesn't matter.

"I would prefer to see what Kilkenny did last year, they shoved up very hard which meant that the Limerick forwards had to come back down the field.

"So I think with the forwards, maybe you'll have to pick a few backs to go into the forwards up against them."

Waterford will be looking to stop Limerick's challenge in the Munster senior hurling final this Sunday, with throw-in at 4pm.