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THREE rounds into the 2004 NHL, Clare are unbeaten and champions Kilkenny are in a spot of bother. Who would have predicted that?

Tomorrow, in Cusack Park in Ennis in the game of the weekend, they meet in a match-up that is of far more importance to the League/championship double champions of the past two seasons than it is to the locals.

After two losses from three games, to Waterford and Galway, a struggle to get over Laois last week, Kilkenny's need in this one is far greater than that of Anthony Daly's Clare, and they will approach it accordingly.