All-Ireland finalists and Leinster champions Kilkenny travel to Cork on Sunday for the opening day of the National Hurling League with DJ Carey allotted a new role in the team. He lines out at centrefield, a position in which he has only brief and recent experience in a tournament match.

Speculation in the county indicates that the intention of new manager Brian Cody and his selectors is to give Carey a freer role which reduces the pressure on him to carry the attack.

The team is under-strength, with six of last September's finalists unavailable. Pat O'Neill is still recovering from an operation, Joe Dermody has a shoulder injury, Canice Brennan is on Army duty in the Lebanon, Liam Keoghan is taking a break, Willie O'Connor is back in training but hasn't done any hurling and last year's captain Tom Hickey is also out.

The substitutes' panel has yet to be named but will include John Power, the 1993 All Star centre forward who was recalled to the panel by Cody this year.

Of the less familiar faces on the team, Carey's brother Martin has some experience of playing in goal during league matches, centre back Eamonn Kennedy played in the corresponding fixture against Cork last season, Johnny Butler has emerged over the county championship with Kilkenny champions Graigue-Ballycallan, and Henry Shefflin, the under-21 player, has distinguished himself in Fitzgibbon Cup action with Waterford IT.

Opponents Cork did not consider two regulars: full back John Browne is doing exams and Fergal Ryan is abroad with work commitments.

Munster champions Clare name an experimental team for Saturday's Division One A meeting with Kerry in Ennis. None of the St Joseph's Doora-Barefield clubmen have been considered as they face Athenry in Sunday's All-Ireland club semi-final in Thurles.

The regular half-back line will not line out. Sean McMahon is in club action, whereas Liam Doyle and Anthony Daly are rested in favour of All-Ireland minor-winning captain John Reddan and David Hegarty respectively. Richard Woods, who filled in at full back when Brian Lohan was suspended last summer, lines out at centre back in place of McMahon.

A familiar but little-glimpsed name, that of Danny Scanlan, is named at centrefield. The Clarecastle player was named in a couple of "dummy" selections during last year's championship, but has been playing in recent matches and is considered likely to start this time.

Ronan O'Hara, who previously featured in the county panel two seasons ago, returns to action at centre forward. He has been playing well for the Garda College in the Fitzgibbon Cup. Another returned hurler is former panellist Ken Morrissey, who is named among the replacements.

Laois hurlers leave a vacancy at right corner forward for their Division One B match against Wexford. Fionan O'Sullivan is ruled out after the scatter which marked the controversial Walsh Cup meeting with Dublin. James Young of Clonaslee will fill the vacancy should he come through today's Fitzgibbon Cup tie for NUI Galway. If he doesn't, last year's minor Karl Grant will get the nod. John Shortall was not considered in the full-back line and neither was Cyril Duggan who has yet to resume training with Padraig Horan's panel.

Today sees quarter-final action in the Fitzgibbon Cup, with pride of place going to the meeting of Waterford IT and Cork IT in Carrigeen. WIT started the competition as favourites but the performances of CIT and the calibre of player available to the college suggests that John Meyler's team may be on the verge of the breakthrough which has eluded the Cork institution in recent years.

Clare (SH v Kerry): D Fitzgerald; M O'Halloran, B Lohan, F Lohan; J Reddan, R Woods, D Hegarty; C Lynch, D Scanlan; F Tuohy, R O'Hara, D Forde; N Gilligan, B Murphy, A Markham. Subs: J O'Brien, B Quinn, K Morrissey, F Hegarty, B Minogue, M Conlon, B Scanlan, B Frost, N Phelan.

Cork (SH v Kilkenny): D Og Cusack; D Murphy, D O'Sullivan, W Sherlock; M Landers, B Corcoran, J Sheehan; D Barrett, P Ryan; K Murray, T McCarthy, F McCormack; S McGrath, S Farrell, J Deane. Subs: B Rochfort, S O hAilpin, M Daly, K Murray, R Dwane, B O'Keeffe, N Ronan.

Kilkenny (SH v Cork): M Carey; J Butler, J Costelloe, P Larkin; M Kavanagh, E Kennedy, P Barry; A Comerford, DJ Carey; H Shefflin, J Hoyne, B McEvoy; K O'Shea, J Dooley, C Carter.

Laois (SH v Wexford): R Cashin; PJ Peacock, B Maher, J O'Sullivan; N Rigney, P Cuddy, A Bergin; O Coss, D Conroy; D Cuddy, D Rooney, C Cuddy; AN Other, M Rooney, L Tynan.

Kerry (SH v Clare): P Corridan; T Cronin, S McIntyre, P Harrington; A O'Sullivan, M McCarthy, WJ Leen; R Gentleman, M Hanly; C Walsh, C Flaherty, I Brick; M Slattery, T Maunsell, JM Dooley.