A big day tomorrow for Waterford champions Ballygunner as they head to Thurles and their third AIB Munster club final. The previous two have ended in defeat and time is running out for the current side. Yet there is an air of optimism about their chances and, even more significantly, an air of anxiety about the club itself - they are all too aware that the best chance of all awaits and they know failure will be intolerable.

There have been two essential changes that could make all the difference between now and the past. Firstly, the team has been that little bit improved, increments of maturity combining with some new blood. Secondly, the campaign to date has left Ballygunner with impressive scalps.

You have to go back seven years to find Munster champions who weren't from Clare. The statistic won't make it to eight, as Ballygunner dethroned defending champions and recent All-Ireland winners St Joseph's Doora-Barefield. That was just for starters.

Tipperary champions Toomevara, with Hurler of the Year Tomas Dunne prolonging his ethereal form, took two matches to eliminate but the experience of both tight games lands Ballygunner in the final as favourites against Blackrock, Cork's first finalists in 10 years.

The future looks as promising as the past has been cruel. For years Ballygunner couldn't shake Clare teams. In the 1996 final, against an uncompromising Shannon Wolfe Tones, with the Lohan brothers in top form, the expectation was that if a grinding, low-scoring match could be avoided the Waterford side could win.

That day at the end of November, goals came more quickly than nightfall and still the Clare side won. Two years ago, a similar sort of match and again Ballygunner came second, this time to St Joseph's Doora-Barefield.

New Waterford manager Justin McCarthy is upbeat. The Cork All-Ireland winner is in a good position to adjudicate the competing claims of tomorrow's finalists.

"They've had a hard campaign and are well prepared. I expect they'll give a good account of themselves. Some of the players might be affected by previous experiences but there are pluses as well as minuses about past games.

"Sometimes a team takes a while to get together. At the moment the key players are going well, (Fergal) Hartley and (Stephen) Frampton are still there, Paul Flynn is getting the scores. Younger players are coming through and getting scores. Andy Moloney is strong and forceful with a good bit of experience and his presence is a big help up front.

"He was quiet enough the first day against Toomevara but in the replay he took vital chances at crucial points in the game. He's capable of upsetting backs, throwing himself around and getting scores. One or two additional players can make a bit of a difference."

Moloney is the big story of the current team. A key figure in Waterford IT's recent Fitzgibbon successes, he worked hard to catch the eye of the Tipperary selectors. Despite much - often unfair - scepticism within the county, he had succeeded when an eye injury picked up in last year's NHL semi-final against Limerick put his career on hold.

That injury removed him from circulation for a critical period and his move to live and work in Waterford distanced him further from the Tipperary team. So while the All-Ireland was being won, Moloney was just an observer. Now the word is that McCarthy might call him up for his county of residence.

"Nothing has been decided on that," according to the Waterford manager. Would it be largely enough up to Moloney?

"It would be largely enough up to both of us."

Sean Stack, manager of Toomevara, agrees that the player has added greatly to the team. Well he might, as Moloney's two goals last week were critical factors in the victory. He disagrees that this prominence was in contrast to the drawn match, but counsels caution on the prospects of coming to too many conclusions.

"I watched it again on tape. He got possession and put a lot of our fellas off the ball. But club hurling is that bit slower and it's when the pace picks up he'll have to be judged. He's well able for the physical and has good hands but June or July is the time to judge players."

Stack is, however, in no doubt that the demanding schedule of the past couple of weeks will be a big advantage to Ballygunner.

"Having played two pressure games will stand them in good stead. You can't do much serious hurling practice at this time of the year so you couldn't put a value on decent match practice. A programme like that is great if you avoid injuries - and Ballygunner have lost no one through injury, this is their third weekend with a full pick. They also had a serious game in Thurles only two weeks ago."

Stack believes strongly in Ballygunner's chances, but McCarthy identifies a need for improvement.

"They did falter in the second half towards the end but Toomevara couldn't take it either. Ballygunner could do with more consistency. There's not an awful lot between the teams at this time of the year - there's not always the confidence to go for matches.

"Then the opportunity to take a game doesn't always come around for some teams. If Ballygunner look like they're not keen to force the pace, then a side like Blackrock could say "let's go". A lot depends on who finishes the strongest."

Something of which Ballygunner will be all too aware.