Former Offaly hurler Michael Verney thinks Tipperary have a slight edge when they take on Kilkenny in the final of the National Hurling League on Sunday.
He joined Shane Stapleton on Off the Ball on Friday to look ahead to the match - giving Tipp the advantage heading into the game.
"I wouldn't have said it before the start of the year because I thought Mick Ryan was blooding some many different players throughout the league," he said, "But there's been such a seamless transition guys coming in and even with Seamus Callanan missing and Noel McGrath missing and Bonner Maher missing and Dan McCormack - you could just go on and on.
"So many guys have stepped up to the plate - Tipp look in a really, really healthy position. I think Tipperary are probably going to edge it.
"Kilkenny have really surprised me - I wasn't expecting it to be so seamless as well with so many faces on board as well.
"It's son intriguing though - anything can happen when these two collide. So many different battles and match-ups to loom forward to - it's going to be a great game.
Speaking about his own experiences of playing against the physicality The Cats bring to the game, he said: "I'll never forget Ger Oakley that used to play with Offaly, saying at half-time that his teeth were shaking such was the physicality when you play against Kilkenny.
"And, that is what it feels like - you never get a chance to breath. Now that was against the best team we've ever seen in the history of the GAA but these young guys seem to have those same characteristics as well.
"But I'll never forget, you're tongue is hanging out and you're just looking for five seconds of a break and then TJ Reid makes a 60 yard dash across the field and you're chasing after him - it's not the nicest experience in the world," he added.
The full pre-match discussion is available here:
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