Decies aim to lower Banner
Both are still in with a chance of making the top tier of the second stage and as a nice subplot, these two go head-to-head in the Munster SHC in six weeks.
In section 1B, Cork and Tipp, who meet in Cork, look certainties to qualify with either Offaly or Limerick best positioned to join them. Wexford have an outside chance.
In Division 1A however, there is no such certainty. Any three of the top four teams here could progress, though Galway are best positioned.
They meet improving Laois in Pearse Stadium, but should win, putting them through. Intrigue abounds elsewhere.
Kilkenny are currently on 4 points two behind the Galway/Clare/Waterford triumvirate. Kilkenny will certainly win this weekend, at home to disappointing Dublin. The question is, by how much? Currently they are 13 points behind Waterford, 15 behind Clare and 16 behind Galway, in the scoring differential.
If Clare and Waterford draw, Kilkenny need Galway to lose, then they need to beat Dublin by enough to make up the 16-point margin. Galway have been inconsistent enough to make that a possibility, but not a probability. That leaves two places between Clare, Waterford and Kilkenny.
If Clare and Waterford draw, it's over, they will both qualify, irrespective of what Kilkenny do. If however, as can happen, Kilkenny beat hapless Dublin by 15 points or more, and if there is a definite result in Ennis, then either Clare or Waterford are gone.
Waterford enter the fray on the back of a very poor performance against Galway last week with a defence that leaked five goals. Manager Justin
McCarthy has swung the axe for this one with six changes in personnel, including goalkeeper and three defenders. It's still an experienced-looking side, especially up front, even without still-injured Ken McGrath, but the pressure is undoubtedly on.
Clare are better positioned. No such blitzing for them, their only loss in this campaign also came last week, but it had a different hue. All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, one point, in a game they could have won, a performance if not a result that pleased manager Anthony Daly.
"Obviously we'd have preferred the win, or even the draw, but I'm delighted with the way the lads played, put it up to the All-Ireland champions, showed they're a match for the best around, just as they did against Galway the previous week."
There are still a few areas of concern however, for Daly.
"We haven't really done any hurling this week. We had a recovery session on Monday night, a relaxed physical session on Wednesday night, but we have a few injuries. Jamesie O'Connor is definitely out, as is Colin Lynch as he is gone on a family holiday."
Given the permutations and the championship date in mid May, Daly is predicting an exciting afternoon in Ennis.
"Waterford will come in with all guns blazing, that's for sure. They'll have a point to prove, will be very determined, although neither of us will want to be giving too much away for the championship either."
Ronan O'Looney of Inagh makes his first start of this campaign, Brian O'Connell switched to corner as Brian Quinn and Brian Lohan are out injured.
Alan Markham moves to centre-forward, in place of Lynch while David Forde comes out to half-forward, with Andrew Quinn named in the corner.
CLARE (SH v Waterford): G. O'Connell; B. O'Connell, R. O'Looney, G. O'Grady; D. Hoey, S. McMahon, G. Quinn; O. Baker, D. McMahon; D. Forde, A. Markham, T. Griffin; N. Gilligan, F. Lohan, A. Quinn.
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