Laois and Limerick prepare for Portlaoise battle

Laois and Limerick have named their sides for tomorrow night's All-Ireland SHC qualifier second round clash at Portlaoise (throw-in 7.45pm).

Joe McKenna's Limerick raced to the top of the Group A standings with a 4-25 to 1-9 thumping of Antrim in the first round, but Laois are likely to provide a stiff challenge on their home patch.

Treaty manager McKenna has made one change in his line-up - bringing Conor Fitzgerald back in for Pat Tobin in the half forward line.

The O'Grady brothers Donal and Paul also switch positions in midfield. Much of the forward focus will lie with Garyspillane attacker TJ Ryan, who struck 1-5 against the Saffrons, as Limerick hope to secure the win which sees them through to the All-Ireland quarter finals.

Laois boss Paudie Butler, meanwhile, has brought dual player Darren Rooney and captain Joe Phelan in for the must-win tie.

Phelan returns at centre field after missing the loss to Galway due to a wedding.

In Leinster, Kilkenny and Wexford have both deferred the naming of their teams for this Sunday's provincial hurling final.

Wexford boss Seamus Murphy will confirm his selection tonight, while Kilkenny, gunning for their seventh Leinster crown in the last eight years, will wait until tomorrow night to give midfielder Derek Lyng extra time to recover from a knee injury.

LAOIS (SHC v Limerick): P Mullally; B Campin, P Cuddy, M McEvoy; J Fitzpatrick, D Rooney, S Dwyer; J Walsh, J Phelan (capt); J Walsh, L Tynan, J Young; T Fitzgerald, M Rooney, D Culleton.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, S Lucey, P O'Dwyer; O Moran (capt), B Geary, P Lawlor; D O'Grady, P O'Grady; A O'Shaughnessy, N Moran, C Fitzgerald; D Ryan, TJ Ryan, D Sheehan.