Cork and Waterford to lock horns

Cork and Waterford lock horns at Semple Stadium today as the All-Ireland champions bid to dethrone the provincial champions, but the Decies could line out without their two most influential players.

Decies' boss Justin McCarthy has left two vacancies in his line-up as the Munster champions will conduct last-minute fitness tests on injured All Stars Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn.

McGrath has recovered from a broken collar bone picked up in the early stages of the league, but his match fitness is in question.

Flying forward Flynn sustained a knee injury in a recent club match.

McCarthy makes four changes from the side that lost to Kilkenny in last year's All-Ireland semi-final.

Stephen Brenner takes over between the sticks from the young Ian O'Regan, while veterans Tom Feeney and Fergal Hartley replace Declan Prendergast and Brian Phelan in the full-back line.

John Mullane, who missed the Kilkenny match due to suspension, returns at top of the right in place of Shane O'Sullivan, who is out for the season due to a cruciate ligament injury.

Lismore's Dave Bennett partners team captain Eoin Kelly at midfield.

However, it is the fitness of Flynn and McGrath that will concern their fans the most as the sides take to the field in a replay of last year's Munster final.

Cork may have lost that day, but they went on to win the Liam McCarthy Cup, and Rebel boss John Allen has named 14 of last year's All-Ireland-winning line-up for today's clash.

The player who loses out is Blackrock club man Wayne Sherlock, who despite having recovered from a groin injury, takes his place on the bench for the eagerly-awaited clash.

Newtownshandrum defender Pat Mulcahy comes in at left corner-back, Diarmuid O'Sullivan lines out at full-back and Brian Murphy moves to Sherlock's right-back position. Donal Óg Cusack is chosen between the posts.

The half-back line is made up of John Gardiner, Ronan Curran and Hurler of the Year and team captain Seán Óg Ó hAilpín. All Stars Tom Kenny and Jerry O'Connor resume their midfield partnership.

Timmy McCarthy has recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place at left wing-forward, with Niall McCarthy leading the attack, and last year's skipper, Ben O'Connor, on the other flank.

Sarsfields club man Kieran Murphy came through an injury scare last weekend take his place at top of the right, with Joe Deane on the other wing and Brian Corcoran at full-forward.

CORK (SHC v Waterford): D Óg Cusack; B Murphy, D O'Sullivan, P Mulcahy; J ardiner, R Curran, S Óg Ó hAilpín; J O'Connor, T Kenny; B O'Connor, N McCarthy, T McCarthy; K Murphy, B Corcoran, J Deane.

WATERFORD (SHC v Cork): S Brenner; T Feeney, F Hartley, J Murray; T Browne, AN Other, E Murphy; D Bennett, E Kelly; D Shanahan, M Walsh, E McGrath; J Mullane, S Prendergast, AN Other.