Limerick v Tipperary:The noises off have been interesting over the past week. It has been possible to hear words of hope and optimism in Limerick ahead of tomorrow's Munster hurling semi-final against Tipperary.

Conversely the mood in Tipp is more subdued and the steady rattle of injury speculation has hardly helped lift spirits, particularly as the affected players are important.

Paul Kelly was a success in his new corner forward posting during the league but at least his absence has been well flagged. The current worries about Paul Curran - the players' All Star full back - and Lar Corbett, a source of championship goals, would if realised constitute major setbacks. Declan Fanning is chalked in to replace Curran and Corbett's place is between Michael Webster and last year's minor Pa Bourke.

There is such a contrast between this and last year when Limerick's credentials were taken on trust after a moderately encouraging league campaign before they were calmly tucked away by Tipp in Thurles.

This weekend there is the same slightly heedless instinct for Tipperary, who did tolerably well in the NHL, losing in a tight finish to eventual winners Waterford as opposed to a Limerick side that needed two relegation play-offs to stay in Division One.

But the one strength Richie Bennis's team have this time around is the selection is settled to a far greater extent than last year. Tipp, on the other hand, are quite unsettled with a swathe of changes. Compared to 12 months ago they show nine changes as opposed to seven for Limerick but far more tellingly, Michael Keating's selection shows eight possible changes on the county's last competitive outing in that Waterford match whereas their opponents are showing only two.

Enforced or not that level of change is disruptive going into a big championship match. James Woodlock had a fine season for the under-21s last year but has had limited exposure in this season's league. A converse example is Hugh Maloney, an NHL regular but who doesn't make the cut.

The big difference between the sides last year was the phenomenal display of Eoin Kelly but as Tipp's harder matches last year demonstrated, tactical nous and close marking can reduce the damage and anyway Kelly can hardly be expected to clip over nine points from play as a matter of routine.

At least Tipp have that sort of fire-power if all is going well whereas Limerick have constantly struggled to compile scores. But Andrew O'Shaughnessy is in good form and Seán O'Connor is a welcome return.

LIMERICK:B Murray; D Reale, S Lucey, S Hickey; M O'Riordan, B Geary, M Foley; P Lawlor, D O'Grady; N Moran, O Moran, M O'Brien; A O'Shaughnessy, S O'Connor, B Foley.

TIPPERARY:B Cummins; E Buckley, P Curran, D Fitzgerald; E Corcoran, B Dunne, C O'Mahony; S McGrath, J Woodlock; J Carroll, R O'Dwyer, D Egan; E Kelly, L Corbett, W Ryan.

Referee:Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork)

Sunday, Gaelic Grounds. 2pm (live on RTÉ2)