Derek McGrath is backing Tipperary to find a way around and past Kilkenny in Sunday's All-Ireland final.
The former Waterford supremo believes that while the Cats have the experience of 40 All-Ireland medals on board, the Premier men have a real motivational advantage - and that Liam Sheedy will work on that ahead of the game.
"Sheedy...he won't say it afterwards, but the general perception around Tipperary players is that when it's put up to them, they kinda shy away," speculated McGrath.
"That's something that Sheedy will twist in terms of they've been questioned on everything, on speed, on character.
"Tipp will come hard with a strong work ethic - almost like we saw against Cork.
"John McGrath's sending off in the semi-final could work in their favour, too - there's a feeling there that perhaps, 'I nearly let that side down'.
"Even when 'Bubbles' (John O'Dwyer) came off in the semi-final, he had a little bit of a shake of the head - I thought, just watching it closely, he'll be gearing himself for a strong performance.
"I think the forwards will find a way of opening up Kilkenny. if you're in the Kilkenny camp then you're saying, 'We've Paul Murphy, Joey Holden, Huw Lawlor...but two years ago we got absolutely opened up here'.
"Joey Holden was left one on one with Seamie Callanan by the half-back line. So you'll see the half-back line only 20 yards away from the full-back line - it's going to be a war zone out around the middle.
"I think Tipp will come out around them and find a way to open them up. But you'd be slow to kinda predict that. It should be a massive game".
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