SHC Galway v Laois:THESE OPENING skirmishes won't develop by much Ger Loughnane's understanding of where his team stands. Like Waterford in the later match, Laois come to the table with a new manager, Niall Rigney, but just one change made to the side well beaten by Offaly some weeks ago.

Earlier reports that some of the footballing dual players were on their way back to the hurling panel have proved exaggerated.

Recent history between the teams has been savagely one-sided and with Laois deprived of even home advantage there's hardly likely to be any new departure to the trend this afternoon.

GALWAY:J Skehill; D Joyce, F Moore, O Canning; S Kavanagh, J Lee, D Forde; A Cullinane, F Healy; A Kerins, C Donnellan, I Tannian; D Hayes, G Farragher, J Canning.

LAOIS:B Mullaney; JA Delaney, B Campion, C Dunne; E Browne, J Walsh, J Phelan; C Delaney, C Coonan; T Fitzgerald, J Brophy, N Costello; N Holmes, E Holohan, W Hyland.

Referee:J McGrath (Westmeath).