The long three week wait for Sunday's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final is nearly at an end for Anthony Daly's Boys in Blue.
It seems an age since the Dubs drove back up the N11 following their 5 point semi-final win against Wexford and in the meantime the Cats have been sharpening their claws.
Anthony Daly must be concerned that Kilkenny's two semi-final outings against Galway, culminating in last week's 7 point win, could give Brian Cody's team the edge at Croke Park?
"This week last year, we were facing into our fifth week in a row. Everyone said it was too much for any team and a fresh Galway team was going to hit the ground running and we'd be in trouble. It didn't turn out like that, we had a big win."
Ipso facto, as they prepare for their third Leinster Championship match in as many weeks, Kilkenny must be regarded as the favourites to steal Dublin's Leinster crown.
"There's no point really worrying yourself about it. It'll either work in their favour or it will have taken a lot out of them and we'll be the fresh team coming in."
Daly's sweating over the fitness of one of his key men in forward Danny Sutcliffe. The St. Judes club man is recovering from a hand injury that kept him out of the Wexford win.
The Dublin boss is already without the services of keeper Gary Maguire (hand) and Mark Schutte (shoulder) but there is some good news on the injury front with Schutte's brother Paul expected to be fit again after overcoming a back problem.
