Whichever of these teams can stay on their feet longest can probably take their place in next month's Guinness Leinster hurling final. There is a degree of similarity between the teams in the reliance on the dwindling vigour of old players and the torturous introduction of young ones. Although Offaly have held the whip hand in this fixture in recent years, they start tomorrow with rather more of the absentee problems. Martin Hanamy has retired and Colm Cassidy, who had been groomed to take over, had his ankle broken in a car accident. Hubert Rigney is injured, as are John Ryan and John Troy.

The personnel loss is bad enough but the accommodations forced upon Pat Fleury are uncomfortable ones. Niall Claffey would prefer the wing to the left corner and Brian Whelahan would certainly prefer his usual half position to centre back where he will face dropping ball all afternoon in the company of an operator as experienced as Martin Storey.

Offaly can point out that they survived the worst of that match-up two years ago with Johnny Dooley's late goal but that only highlights the indecent amount of good fortune they've enjoyed in recent instalments of this perennial fixture.

Wexford have lost to retirement full back Ger Cushe and bring Darragh Ryan in for his first championship outing. He has the sturdy qualities necessary for the job but can he master the craft and black arts of the position?

The continuing reliance on Tom Dempsey and Storey is worrying and Paul Codd needs to reproduce his display of two years ago to spread the burden. Larry Murphy will try to run Kevin Kinahan around but equally he could switch with Storey given that he's previously done well on Whelahan.

Brendan Murphy will presumably spend more time on the inside of Offaly's attack with Michael Duignan and even Joe Dooley coming out, but Gary Hanniffy will need to exhibit more consistent performance levels if he is to live with Liam Dunne.

Both sides have been less than dazzling on the challenge circuit. Toss of a coin. Wexford.