Cork will be looking to get their league final hammering at the hands of Dublin out of their system when they welcome Clare to Pairc Ui Rinn tomorrow for a Munster SFC semi-final.

Manager Brian Cuthbert has carried out major surgery to the team that slumped to a 2-7 to 1-21 defeat against the Dubs.

Alan O'Connor will made a his first competitive start in two years in the Rebel midfield while Stephen Cronin, Brian O'Driscoll, Barry O'Driscoll, Paul Kerrigan and Donncha O'Connor also get the nod.

Tomás Clancy, Noel Galvin and Fintan Goold drop to the bench while Eoin Cadogan, John O'Rourke and Jamie O'Sullivan miss out completely through injury and suspension.

"I have been around long enough to know we are not in a position to underestimate anyone, and Clare have been threatening to claim a big scalp for a while now," Paul Kerrigan warned during the week.

"They were seven points up at half time in the Munster semi-final against Kerry last year, they ran Kildare very close as well in the qualifiers, and sooner or later, they are going to bring down one of the big teams."

Clare scored a two point quarter-final victory over Limerick but Podge Collins' cruciate ligament injury has cast a shadow over their preparations for the Rebel County clash.

Despite their long odds, manager Colm Collins insists they are not travelling down to Cork just to make up the numbers.

"Cathal McInerney is a class finisher, Pat Burke is there so we're lucky to have great back-up.

"We're really going down there to win a match, we'll give it our best shot."

Verdict - Cork.

Cork team: Ken O'Halloran; Conor Dorman, Michael Shields, James Loughrey; Stephen Cronin, Brian O'Driscoll, Barry O'Driscoll; Alan O'Connor, Kevin O'Driscoll; Colm O'Driscoll, Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan; Colm O'Neill, Brian Hurley, Donncha O'Connor.

Clare team: tbc.

Match details: Sunday; Pairc Ui Rinn; 3.30pm.

Referee: Joe McQuillan.

Odds: Cork 1/25, Draw 20/1, Clare 10/1.

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