A year on from the All-Ireland final everyone expected last August, we’re finally getting a Kilkenny-Waterford face-off on hurling’s biggest day and I can’t wait for it. You can almost feel the sense of history hanging in the air because we’re going to have either a massive breakthrough or the first three-in-a-row in 30 years. With two immensely talented teams on show, all the ingredients are there for a classic.

Because of what they’ve already achieved, I don’t think this Kilkenny team need a three-in-a-row to frank their greatness, though it will still be a massive motivation for the players and management. Some people have suggested it will put extra pressure on them but Brian Cody’s team have so much experience at this level that they’ll embrace that challenge rather than see it as a burden. Most of these players have played in so many All-Ireland finals that they’ll approach today just like any other big game.

The key question for Waterford is how well they’ve managed the hype and euphoria. Despite all their ability, there is always a danger that a team in such a position could collapse. The only time I ever got a fright in my life was when we ran out for the 1996 All-Ireland final. The huge roar and the scale of the occasion almost knocks you back on your heels. Unless you deal with that immediately, your whole day could fall apart. Look at Limerick last year.

Waterford have far more talent than Limerick but Kilkenny went for the jugular early in that game and the damage was done inside 11 minutes.

Kilkenny will be like a fully fuelled jumbo jet again, ready to take off. They’ll want to hit Waterford from the start, when Waterford will be vulnerable. The Munster men can expect the kitchen sink to come at them. If they can respond, we’re in for some battle.

Waterford will have to play Kilkenny at their own game and take them on. They will have to stamp their authority on the game. Davy Fitzgerald will have a plan but I feel they should slightly alter the template they used against Tipp. Stephen Molumphy needs to come out as a third midfielder, almost dropping into the half-back line, and I’d move Eoin McGrath into that vacated space, until the game opens up.

Waterford are the one team with the aerial power to try to break down the Kilkenny half-back line but their half-forward line will need to stay as high up the pitch as they can. Kilkenny will be trying to draw them back down towards their goal and “Cha” Fitzpatrick is the master at sitting in the pocket in front of the half-back line and hitting on the counter-attack. Waterford can’t afford Fitzpatrick to dictate the tempo so they’ll hope that “Brick” Walsh can tie him down. They’ll need a huge performance from Walsh, because they’ll also require him to protect the half-back line as much as he can.

That’s still playing the masters at their own game and that’s why I’d be inclined to play their nippier forwards further out the field. If John Mullane and Eoin Kelly can make a corridor of space behind them, at least they’ll have the pace then to do some damage by taking on the Kilkenny defence.

While Kilkenny have been the best team in the country at responding to any tactics thrown at them, they’ll have some tricks of their own up their sleeve. They’ll obviously target the Waterford full-back line and they’ll rotate their forwards until some chink appears in Waterford’s armour. The likes of Kevin Moran and Aidan Kearney will be given a severe test because they’re likely to see three or four different markers on their beat at some stage, of differing styles.

When you look at the Kilkenny team, there are no weaknesses. Noel Hickey has solidified the full-back line, Derek Lyng is back to his form of five years ago and Eoin Larkin has come through so strongly that he’s now the primary candidate for Hurler of the Year. Waterford have shown serious maturity to get this far after the poor start to their season but, if Kilkenny hold Mullane and Kelly, I don’t think Waterford can make enough scores to win.

I hope Waterford can deal with the occasion and do themselves justice. While I would love to see them win, Kilkenny should come out on top by three or four points.

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