Kieran Joyce warns Kilkenny keen to beat Cork and avoid relegation play-off

Kilkenny hope to avoid a relegation play-off and another yawning break between league and Championship by beating Cork on Saturday, says Kieran Joyce.

The All-Ireland champions last year had to bridge 12 weeks between their relegation play-off win over Clare and a Leinster semi-final against Wexford.

Should they be dragged into another game to avoid the drop on March 27, they will have to wait 10 weeks until they face Dublin or Wexford in the last four of the provincial championship.