Cork make two changes for the visit of Armagh in Sunday's National Football League fixture at Pairc Ui Rinn.
Nicholas Murphy replaces Micheal Cronin whereas Mark O'Sullivan makes his league return at the expense of Alan O'Regan. Ciaran O'Sullivan who made a big impact during the McGrath Cup victory over Limerick is expected to confirm his return from injury when manager Larry Tompkins names his substitutes on Friday.
Clare's Ollie Baker who injured a finger in St Joseph's DooraBarefield's All-Ireland club hurling semi-final win at the weekend is considered very doubtful for the Garda College's Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final on Saturday. The finger is thought to be broken in which case he could play only with heavy strapping. Baker is captain of the Guards who are hosting this year's competition. He is expected to be fully fit for the All-Ireland club final on St Patrick's Day.
Athenry are still considering a possible appeal against Sunday's defeat on the basis that Cathal Moran's shot in the final minutes was incorrectly signalled wide. "We haven't made a decision yet," said team manager Pat Nally, "but we are considering all the video evidence. I am absolutely certain that it was a point. The wind was blowing from left to right which would have carried it even further inside the post." A decision is expected in the next day or so.
Mayo's perennial club-versus-county wrangle is up and running again. Ahead of next month's All-Ireland club final with Crossmaglen Rangers, Ballina have turned down a request from the county board that the club's players be released for league duty with the county on Sunday.
The request was made after Ballina's semi-final win last weekend but manager Noel O'Dowd declined. "I would hate to see any bad feeling over this but we have our sights set on an All-Ireland title and I don't think it is fair to expect players now to put that at risk by being asked to do duty for the county," he said.
Mayo are among a number of teams who have postponed naming teams until tomorrow. Dublin, Galway, Kildare and Donegal have all opted to wait.
Dublin are unlikely to appeal the punishment meted out by Leinster Council on Monday night. "We haven't made a decision yet," said county secretary John Costello, "but you can only appeal on procedures and the procedures were correct."
Cork (SF v Armagh) - D McAuley; M Donovan, R McCarthy, A Lynch; D Wiseman, O Sexton, Martin Cronin; L Honohan, M O'Sullivan; N Murphy, P O'Mahony, A Dorgan; P Clifford, J Kavanagh, M O'Sullivan.
Clare (SF v Kildare) - J Hanrahan; A Malone, N Hawes, J Enright; B Keating, B Rouine, C Nagle; D Russell, D O'Sullivan; O O'Dwyer, AN Other, D O'Driscoll; P McMahon, C Considine, M Daly. Subs: F Maguire, J Daly, B Considine, M Hynes, D Divine, M Sheedy, F Griffin, G Quinlan, E McGuane, P Gallagher, P Cosgrave, D Keane.
Laois (SF v Down) - F Byron; E Delaney, D Rooney, AN Other; C Parkinson, M Lawlor, P Conway; T Maher, J Kealy; I Fitzgerald, L Keenan, D Sweeney; G Ramsbottom, D Delaney, C Conway.
