Double champions Kilkenny will begin their defence of the National Hurling League with nine of the team that won last year's All-Ireland.

Out of the country at present are DJ Carey and Peter Barry whereas Martin Comerford and Seán Dowling are involved with O'Loughlin Gaels' club campaign. John Hoyne and James Ryall will start on the bench. Making their first league starts will be Conor Phelan, James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, Jackie Tyrell and John Maher.

Back in action are Walter Burke and Richie Mullally - rated by many as Kilkenny's top performer in last year's NHL campaign, but who missed most of the championship because of injury. In Barry's absence, last season's Hurler of the Year JJ Delaney moves to centre back.

New Clare manager Anthony Daly has made the expected experimental changes for his first competitive match, against Laois. Regular corner back Frank Lohan is named at full forward.

Another conversion from defence sees Conor Plunkett line-out in his Clarecastle club position of centre forward. David Forde is back in the team after taking last year off and Brian O'Connell makes his league debut at left corner back. Regular first-teamers James O'Connor, Brian Quinn and David Hoey are named on the bench.

Munster champions Cork name an unfamiliar team for Sunday's opening NHL fixture against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds. There are no fewer than six players making their debut in a line-up that shows nine changes from the side that lost last September's All-Ireland final.

Aidan Fitzpatrick, Graham Callanan, Adrian Coughlan, Jonathan O'Callaghan, Michael Byrne and Brendan Lombard all make their first senior competitive appearance for the county. Only one forward - Timmy McCarthy - from the All-Ireland starts again whereas Eamonn Collins is back at full forward after missing last year with knee ligament injury.

Missing from the first-choice team are the injured Joe Deane, Wayne Sherlock and Mickey O'Connell. The latter two will sit on the bench with John Gardiner, rested due to a hectic Sigerson and Fitzgibbon schedule. Last year's captain Alan Browne hasn't returned to the panel yet.

Pad Joe Whelahan's Limerick selection features three newcomers, including brothers John and Michael Cahill at goalkeeper and left corner back respectively. JP Sheehan from intermediate champions Toornafulla is the other debutant, at full forward.

Veteran Ciarán Carey will captain the team from centrefield.

Offaly name only one debutant in the team to play Tipperary. Richie McRedmond comes in at left corner forward in a team that shows five changes from the side that lost the All-Ireland quarter-final to Tipperary last July.

RTÉ broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, whose career spans seven decades will publish his autobiography this autumn.

The announcement was made by Penguin Ireland who have acquired the publication rights.

KILKENNY: J McGarry; M Kavanagh, N Hickey, W Burke; R Mullally, JJ Delaney, J Tyrell; D Lyng, P Mullally; C Phelan, H Shefflin, T Walsh; J Fitzpatrick, E Brennan, J Maher.

CLARE: D Fitzgerald; R O'Looney, B Lohan, B O'Connell; C Forde, S McMahon, G Quinn; O Baker, C Lynch; A Markham, C Plunkett, T Griffin; N Gilligan, F Lohan, D Forde.

LIMERICK (SH v Cork): J Cahill; D Reale, TJ Ryan, M Cahill; O Moran, P Lawlor, M Foley; P O'Grady, C Carey; N Moran, J O'Brien, J Meskell; A O'Shaughnessy, JP Sheehan, P Tobin.

CORK: D Cusack; A Fitzpatrick, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; G Callanan, R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; T Kenny, A Coughlan; J O'Callaghan, M Byrne, T McCarthy; B Lombard, E Collins, E Fitzpatrick.

OFFALY: B Mullins; D Franks, G Oakley, B Teehan; N Claffey, J Brady, C Cassidy; M O'Hara, B Murphy; B Carroll, N Coughlan, R Hanniffy; D Murray, G Hanniffy, R McRedmond.