Byrne and Schutte to start for Dubs

Kevin Byrne and Mark Schutte will make their first league starts for Dublin in tomorrow's Division 1B opener against Offaly at Parnell Park (throw-in 7pm).

As the Dubs launch their Allianz Hurling League campaign, Crumlin clubman Byrne will partner Joey Boland in midfield and Schutte gets the nod at left corner forward.

The pair have been rewarded for their solid form during the recent Walsh Cup competition, with Cuala's Schutte now concentrating on hurling after winning an All-Ireland Under-21 Football medal last year.

Schutte's older brother Paul, who is back after an injury-disrupted 2012, slots in at full-back for Anthony Daly's men alongside the pacey duo of Peter Kelly and Ruairí Trainor.

Liam Rushe, an All-Star winner and Young Hurler of the Year in 2011, has been positioned at centre-back for the floodlit clash with Offaly. The 22-year-old won his All-Star award at midfield two years ago.

Captained by centre forward John McCaffrey, the Dublin hurlers will be keen bounce straight back from being relegated in an Allianz League play-off against Galway last April.

"The panel is really strong - I'll be dropping eight guys this week and it's not going to be easy because they've put in a great effort," admitted a quietly confident Daly, speaking ahead of the team announcement.

"Stephen Hiney (returning from injury) played his first full match against the Under-21s last Sunday. Mossy O'Brien played his first full match after a kind of a serious enough illness - they're back.

"Ryan O'Dwyer, Martin Quilty are making great progress. There's great competition there and it'll be damn hard to pick a team for the weekend and that's what you want."

DUBLIN (NHL v Offaly): Gary Maguire; Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte, Ruairí Trainor; Michael Carton, Liam Rushe, Shane Durkin; Joey Boland, Kevin Byrne; Conal Keaney, John McCaffrey (capt), Danny Sutcliffe; Paul Ryan, Conor McCormack, Mark Schutte.