FOUR-time winners Na Piarsaigh host Ballygunner in the opening round of the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday (throw-in 3.30pm).
The prize for the victors is a home semi-final against holders Sarsfields (Cork) two weeks later.
Newly-crowned Tipperary champions Loughmore-Castleiney and Éire Óg, Ennis, contest the other semi.
The final is listed for November 30.
This weekend’s contest is a repeat of a last four meeting between the pair at the same venue a couple of years ago, one in which the visitors prevailed.
Shane O’Neill’s Na Piarsaigh annexed the local title with a recent extra-time defeat of defending kingpins Doon, and have never this year hidden their burning ambition to once more prove themselves as serious contenders for provincial and All-Ireland glory.
The side is buoyed by the return of sterling county servant Conor Boylan, whose brother Jerome is captain of a bunch that owed much of county c’ship win number nine to the likes of Mike Casey, Ronan Lynch, William O’Donoghue, Kevin Downes, Peter Casey, Keith Dempsey, and Adrian Breen.
The return from injury of Boylan and Dempsey is timely for Na Piarsaigh.
It’s been an age – September 7 – since Ballygunner won a stunning 12th Waterford Championship on the trot with a runaway win against Mount Sion, 2-35 to 1-16.
The Gunners have serious players, particularly in attack with Pauric Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson and Patrick Fitzgerald.
Ballygunner will be difficult to beat, but if there’s a team around to topple this fancied bunch it’s plucky Na Piarsaigh.
Niall Malone of Clare will referee.
Meanwhile, Garryspillane run-up against Tallow (Waterford) in the Intermediate Championship at Fraher Field, Dungarvan this Saturday.
Elsewhere in the Junior Championship, Knockaderry are away to Kenmare Shamrocks (Kerry) in Templenoe.
Both of these fixtures throw-in at 1.30pm.