JJ Delaney admits he fears for Kilkenny in their Championship opener against Dublin as the injuries mount for Brian Cody.
Doubts surround goalkeeper Eoin Murphy and defenders Conor Delaney and Cillian Buckley, all of whom are likely to miss the visit of Mattie Kenny’s side on May 11.
And 2014 Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan’s ongoing fitness issues place large question marks over his participation this summer.
Nine-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny Delaney said: “Dublin coming to Nowlan Park, you seen what happened last year. Your home games – you have to win them. You have to win every single one of them.
“And if they don’t win that one, they have to go down to Wexford Park and get a result down there as well, which is going to be really tough.
“So it’s vitally important that they hit the ground running. Because you seen what Dublin did in the League.
“They can play tactically, they can play with a sweeper, they can play 15 on 15. Interesting to see what they bring to the table as well.”
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On the injury crisis, he continued: “It’s the spine of your team is nearly gone there. Goalkeeper, full-back, centre-back, maybe centre-forward.
“But the match will go ahead. Fifteen hurlers will go out. It could be an opportunity for Huw Lawlor to come back in full-back there again.
“In the first half of the League he was very good there.”
Meanwhile, Delaney doesn’t expect Adrian Mullen to command a starting place despite his impressive form for Ballyhale Shamrocks.
“Realistically you’ll have two starters: Colin [Fennelly] and TJ [Reid]. Joey [Holden] could get himself into the reckoning as well. I don’t think Adrian Mullen will start.
“He’s definitely an option for the last 10 minutes. When the whole thing is a bit loose, he could come on a get a few scores.
“It’s a bit too soon for him. Ballyhale went a bit too well for his own personal development. You’d like to have seen him get a few League games to see how he’d get on because Ballyhale, you couldn’t get those League games under his belt.
“But it’s too soon for him to start a Championship game. Great option to come on.”
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