Jimmy Barry Murphy, manager of the Cork hurlers who won last year's National Hurling League title, has modified his priorities for this season's campaign which starts this weekend with the first series of matches. Barry Murphy, whose side entertain Kilkenny, is hoping to expand his panel and intensify the competition for places on the team.

"Last year," he says, "we were very successful and the team progressed in the league but it took the edge off us for the championship. We had showed our hand because our team in the championship was the same as our team in the league.

"It was very predictable, but we had to establish a base somewhere. On the other hand, I'm not so sure it benefited the subs because I possibly didn't give the panel enough of a chance. I think we're more developed now but the next few games will tell a lot."

After the low-point reached by Cork hurling in his first year in charge in 1995-96 when losing at home to Limerick by 16 points, Barry Murphy has presided over a steady improvement which culminated in last year's league success. Nonetheless, the vulnerabilities exposed by Clare last June indicated that the team has further evolution ahead of it.

"I hope to broaden the panel's base. I hope to have three or four new players pushing for a first-team place this year to create a sense of uncertainty about the first 15, to stop players feeling too settled."

In terms of raw material, he has the last two All-Ireland-winning under-21 sides at his disposal and in the past he hasn't been shy about taking risks with young players. In 1996, Sean O hAilpin and Joe Deane both got senior debuts only a year out of minor.

"Maybe that was a bit too soon," he says, "but both have progressed so I suppose it worked out."

Although team-strengthening is his ambition and he admits to being "excited" by the potential of some of the new players, Barry Murphy is reluctant to play down too much the only senior title Cork have won in the last six years.

"We didn't set out to win it specifically but there comes a stage when matches are there to be won. You don't sit in the dressingroom saying `we don't want to win today'."

For Sunday's match, three familiar names will be missing. Goalkeeper Ger Cunningham has retired, O hAilpin is completing exams in DCU and Fergal Ryan is out of the country on a weekend course.

The London team to play Westmeath in next weekend's Hurling League game shows eight changes from the team demolished by Antrim in last June's Ulster hurling semi-final replay. Top scorer Timmy Moloney, who scored 1-13 over the two matches, is switched from centre forward to centre back and amongst those called into the team at left corner forward is Shane Linnane, son of Galway All-Ireland medallist Sylvie. LONDON (SH v Westmeath): R Walsh; L Barron, O Lee, JJ Sheil; D Dwane, T Maloney, PJ Horgan; D Murphy, P Jordan; D Murphy, M O'Meara, P Keane; C Heaney, A Heaney, S Linnane.