Familiarity breeds respect according to Brendan Maher as Tipp's knowledge of their Laois counterparts will make them wary.
Close bonds ensure the players know each other well through annual challenge games and Maher understands the passion that exists in the Leinster county for the game through friends there.
"There has always been a bite in it," said Maher.
"We went up to them not long before the start of the championship and had a great game in O’Moore Park.
"We’re familiar with each other, we play each other every year if we don’t meet in League. There’s familiarity there and there’s respect there.
"There are some unbelievable hurlers in Laois. The club scene there is very strong and I have friends up there training teams and you know they are hugely passionate about their hurling.
"We’ll treat them with the same respect as any other team. They’re there on merit and they have beaten Dublin and fully deserve to be in an All-Ireland quarter-final.
"Whoever you’re playing you have to be playing to the best of your ability and make sure you’re at 100 per cent".
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