EOIN Cody will be available for Kilkenny’s All-Ireland semi-final tussle with Tipperary after recovering from a leg injury.
However, there’s contrasting news for Cork as Séamus Harnedy has been ruled out of their encounter with Dublin due to a hamstring strain.
All-Star forward Séamus Harnedy will miss out and defender Ger Millerick remains doubtful with a broken finger.
On Harnedy, Cork boss Pat Ryan told The Echo: “He’s back running in training this week.
“You’d be hoping he’d be back if we made it to the final but it’ll need some work.
“The other lads are all perfect but there’s still a bit of a question over Ger Millerick.”
On a brighter note, following their recent injuries Niall O’Leary, Declan Dalton and captain Rob Downey are all available for selection to face the Sky Blues.
Kilkenny are planning without Harry Shine as the young forward is set for a long spell on the sidelines with a torn ACL.
Marty Murphy is also out with a hamstring issue.
But they are set to be boosted by the return of Cody. The Ballyhale Shamrocks ace missed his side’s last four games, including the Leinster final win over Galway.
Boss Derek Lyng confirmed: “Eoin is available for selection now again. He’s come through the last few weeks and he’s done very well. He’s worked hard.
“Even in the run-up to the Leinster final, he was pushing hard.
“He was just kind of a week off at that stage and we didn’t take the chance with him. Thankfully he’s come through.”
Lyng also empathised with fans, who are facing a price increase for their team’s seventh Championship outing in 11 weeks.
The cost of tickets for All-Ireland semi-finals has gone up by €5 in each of the last two years, meaning a place in the stand this weekend will set adults back €60.
The 8,243 crowd that attended the opener against Galway at Nowlan Park was the largest that Kilkenny played in front of during the Leinster round-robin.
The 46-year-old added: “Families probably have to pick and choose.
“A lot of people will wait and hope their team gets further in the competition, so I think it could be looked at. We want to get as many young people to these games as possible.”
