New Kilkenny captain Shane Prendergast reckons his tennis background has helped mould him into the hurler he is today.

The Clara man's first sporting love had been tennis until he gave it up at 16 years of age to concentrate on hurling and he believes that swinging the racket in his early years have helped him with his development.

"I think so, yeah. 'Fan' Larkin said he would have liked to play tennis because it would have been good for his hurling," Prendergast told the Irish Sun.

"The techniques are similar - if you are using you're forehand, it is like hitting off your good side and if you are using your back-hand, it is like hitting off your bad side.

"Volleying is like blocking the ball. Smashing is like blocking the ball.

"There are a lot of similarities and I don't think it has done me any harm."

Prendergast will lead out the Cats today for the first time since being named captain last week when Brian Cody's men take on Waterford in the NHL Division 1A first round clash at Walsh Park (throw-in 2pm). 

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