Offaly hurling is at a low ebb following their shock Leinster SHC defeat to Laois and they won't be expecting any sympathy from Clare in this evening's first round qualifier encounter.

Brian Whelahan takes the Faithful County to Ennis and it's difficult to envisage anything other than a comprehensive home victory.

The Banner County were edged out by a point in the Munster SHC quarter-final by Limerick but Davy Fitzgerald and his selectors welcome back Brendan Bugler, Conor McGrath, Aaron Cunningham and Colm Galvin for the visit of the Leinster outfit.

Injury ruled McGrath and Cunningham out of the provincial clash while Bugler was suspended. Midfielder Galvin, meanwhile, recently returned from the US and has been named on the bench.

It has been a year to forget so far for the 2013 All-Ireland champions who, remarkably, are still searching for a first championship victory since the Liam McCarthy replay decider two years ago against Cork.

As a result, key forward Conor McGrath is refusing to get lulled into a false sense of security: "We haven't met Offaly in a couple of years but with what we have done right over the last year, we have no right to expect to beat anyone.

"We've had one or two wins in the last 12 months. I don't know much about Offaly but Limerick have come a cropper against them in the league in the last couple of years, which ruined their promotion chances, so we know what we have in store on Saturday evening.

"Unless we up it big time, over what we've shown over the last year or so, we'll be out of the championship again on Saturday."

Verdict - Clare.

Clare team: Patrick Kelly; David McInerney, Cian Dillon, Seadna Morey; Brendan Bugler, Conor Ryan, Jack Browne; Patrick O'Connor, Colin Ryan; John Conlon, Tony Kelly, Shane Golden; David Reidy, Shane O'Donnell, Conor McGrath.

Offaly: James Dempsey; Niall Wynne, Dermot Shortt, David King; Eanna Murphy, Colin Egan, Pat Camon; Emmet Nolan, Sean Ryan; James Mulrooney, Dan Currams, Paddy Murphy; Shane Dooley, Joe Bergin, Brian Carroll.

Match details: Saturday; Cusack Park, Ennis; 7pm; extra-time playable.

Referee: John Keenan.

Odds: Clare 1/33; Draw 20/1; Offaly 12/1.

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