This looks unrecognisable from the Guinness All-Ireland final of two years ago. It's easy to see what's happened Tipperary.

Having run out of steam last year they've since had to cope with a change of management and a run of injuries and suspension that has overshadowed their summer to date.

But have Galway slipped to the same extent? Certainly last year was a major letdown and this year there is only one match on which to base judgement. But the one quality lacking 12 months ago when the county lost to Clare by a point - resilience - was very much in evidence in Ennis.

It's hard to say what Tipp's mental state is or how deeply the humiliation against Clare has bitten. The team could probably have done with a harder match than the bloodless meeting with Laois but tomorrow will sort out where they stand.

The return of Eamonn Corcoran will improve morale as well as the defence but Mark Kerins is an awkward opponent and the benefit of Corcoran's return could end up being dissipated in high-ball wrangling.

Tipp will also hope for a dividend on Tommy Dunne's resumption of centrefield duties, and although his form hasn't fully picked up this year, he rarely disappoints on big days.

Galway leave vacancies and Fergal Healy's position is said to be causing more concern than Kevin Broderick's. Healy's performance at wing back was a revelation and if he misses the cut it will be a loss as well as necessitate a reshuffle. Both, however, are expected to play.

Conor Hayes is content to leave in place the centrefield, both of whom needed to be replaced against Clare. The whole county is keeping fingers crossed that Richie Murray can deliver 70 minutes on the big stage but the likelihood is that he and John Conroy will not survive the whole match.

Similarly, Galway leave Tony Óg Regan and Liam Hodgins at centre back and full back respectively, although the switch that was so successful against Clare is available for repetition.

Tipperary's one blue-chip forward, Eoin Kelly, will be marked by the country's best corner back, Galway captain Ollie Canning, whose principal failing seems to be that he can't be expected to dominate his man every day.

At full tilt Tipperary would be entitled to be favourites. But this has been a long, hard summer and by mid-July a sense of mental wellbeing is a critical factor.

Galway may not be fully in possession of it just yet but they look closer to the mark than Tipp.

GALWAY: L Donoghue; D Joyce, L Hodgins, O Canning (capt.); AN Other, T Óg Regan, D O'Brien; J Conroy, R Murray; R Gantley, M Kerins, D Tierney; D Hayes, O Fahy, AN Other.

TIPPERARY: B Cummins; T Costello, P Curran, M Maher; B Dunne, E Corcoran, P Kelly; E Enright, T Dunne; M O'Leary, C Gleeson, B O'Meara (capt.); E Kelly, D Byrne, L Corbett.