Cody expects serious game from Dubs

Kilkenny boss Brian Cody has rubbished the notion that Sunday's National Hurling League opener against Dublin (Parnell Park, throw-in 2.30pm) will be a cake-walk for his side.

Cody wants his players to be on guard for every match in the competition as counties seek the scalp of the reigning NHL and All-Ireland champions.

The Cats, despite being without their Ballyhale contingent, are quoted as 1/100 favourites with most bookmakers to beat the Dubs and get their title defence off to a winning start, but Cody reckons they will not have it all their own way in the capital.

"There is huge potential in Dublin - this is a very, very serious game for us," Cody told the Kilkenny People.

In his ninth season at the helm, the James Stephens clubman was quick to point out that places are up for grabs in the Kilkenny side, with the 2006 starting line-up expected to come under pressure from fringe players in the coming months.

"The players realise that if they get an opportunity in the league they are not just holding on to a jersey for someone else. They can play themselves on to the team.

"That belief is very, very important for the players. They know they won't be used and then forgotten about," he added.

"I have no idea what team we will be looking at later in the year. The places are up for grabs - they have to be. There are decent players out there. The difference between the players who started last year and those who didn't was minimal."

Although admittedly "a bit behind in terms of physical preparations," Kilkenny always treat the NHL with utmost respect - their title wins in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006 prove that fact - so expect them to rise to the challenge over the coming weeks.

Fresh from qualifying for the Walsh Cup final, it would seemingly take a miracle for Kilkenny to lose this weekend.

After all, they have not lost a competitive game since that epic All-Ireland semi-final against Galway, a full 17 months ago.