Innovate Wexford Park will play host to the pick of the opening round games in the hurling qualifiers this evening.

Both Wexford and Cork enter the fixture in a fragile state of mind following their respective provincial campaigns.

Liam Dunne and the Model County were on the receiving end of a 24-point lesson at the hands of Kilkenny while Cork surrendered their Munster SHC title in meek fashion against Waterford.

Seamus Harnedy returns to the Cork starting 15 for this do-or-die clash.

The St Ita's clubman is positioned on the edge of the square while Brian Lawton also comes into the side.

Wexford, meanwhile, are intent on righting the wrongs of their abject display against the Cats according to ace forward Conor McDonald.

"Well, I suppose after a defeat like what happened against Kilkenny, it is about getting everyone together, making sure everyone is on the right track, driving forward," he commented during the build-up.

"Nobody wants us to go up to Nowlan Park and get beaten like that. And nobody wants to be left out of the loop, going forward. It is just basically everyone is in the same boat, going forward and getting ready for Cork.

"I think a lot of things went wrong. Lot of things went wrong but they were easily identified and easily fixed by doing the right thing, so hopefully we can put it right against Cork."

Verdict - Cork.

Wexford team: Mark Fanning; Liam Ryan, Matthew O'Hanlon, Eoin Moore; Andrew Shore, Lee Chin, Paudie Foley; David Redmond, Aidan Nolan; Diarmuid O'Keefe, Kevin Foley, Ian Byrne; Paul Morris, Conor McDonald, Liam Og McGovern.

Cork team: Anthony Nash; Damien Cahalane, Stephen McDonnell, Brian Murphy; Aidan Walsh, Mark Ellis, Cormac Murphy; Daniel Kearney, Bill Cooper; Conor Lehane, Patrick Cronin, Brian Lawton; Alan Cadogan, Seamus Harnedy, Patrick Horgan.

Match details: Saturday; Innovate Wexford Park; 7pm; extra-time playable.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Odds: Wexford 3/1; Draw 10/1; Cork 1/3.

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