GAA:Kilkenny will be without Tommy Walsh when they take on Dublin in their Allianz Hurling League Division One clash at Croke Park on Sunday.
JJ Delaney is also a doubt for the game between second and third after he picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Waterford at Nowlan Park yesterday.
Walsh damaged his AC shoulder joint shortly before halftime in the match and is expected to be out for around six weeks, meaning he will also miss the meeting with Offaly on April 17th.
The 27-year-old eight-time All Star could be joined on the sidelines by Delaney after he too was taken off after 61 minutes. The extent of his injury is not yet known, but he is surely a doubt for the weekend.
Forward Richie Power has already been ruled out of the game as he recovers from a hip operation.
Brian Cody will hope the prognosis on Michael Fennelly, who pulled out of the Deise clash with a spasm, and midfielder James Fitzpatrick (tonsillitis) is more positive this week.
The Cats win over Waterford saw them leapfrog the Dubs into second place after Anthony Daly’s allowed Galway go first with a win at Parnell Park.
Despite defeat to the Tribesmen, Daly was pleased with his sides performance, even if they did fail to take their chances before Eanna Ryan late goal sealed the win for Galway.
"It had a draw written all over it but unfortunately we got caught for that goal right at the end. It's disappointing but we'll take the positive things with us and work on them,” said the manager afterwards. "We're happy enough with the performance but not the result. We matched Galway toe to toe and created more chances that they did.
"We came here to perform and we did that but we could have a put a bit more polish on it. We've got to get the defeat out of our system very quickly and be right for Kilkenny next Saturday."