One of the more intriguing match-ups, this could go a long way towards determining where the Liam McCarthy Cup will be spending the next 12 months. Both are fierce competitors and things could get heated in and around the Kilkenny goalmouth when these big hitters slug it out for supremacy. Hickey has been an automatic choice at full back for the Cats since he made his debut nine years ago. The Dunnamaggin farmer has been arguably the top number three in the game since Brian Lohan departed the scene a few years ago and despite being only 28, is bidding to win his sixth All-Ireland medal. He is also the holder of eight Leinster and four National League medals but, rather surprisingly, has just one All-Star award to his name (2003). This could be partly attributed to the fact that he has missed a number of key games in recent years due to a recurring hamstring problem, while he was sidelined for several months after being diagnosed with a serious viral infection of the heart in 2005, which threatened to end his career. A hamstring complaint forced him to miss this year's successful Leinster campaign, but he returned in place of JJ Delaney (who switched to his more familiar wing back berth) for the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork and never gave Joe Deane, who was substituted at half-time, a sniff. Kelly is one of several Waterford players to have received a new lease of life since Davy Fitzgerald was appointed manager. After missing the disastrous Munster championship first round defeat to Clare, he returned for the All-Ireland qualifier win over Antrim at Walsh Park, and has since scored a whopping 6-34 in just four championship matches. The ace free-taker produced one of the best individual displays of the championship when scoring 2-13 against Offaly. He hit 1-9 against Wexford, and racked up a further 1-10 against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. His goal in the 56th minute was crucial in securing Waterford's place in the All-Ireland final for the first time since 1963. Another big performance from the Passage East man would put him in pole position for the Hurler of the Year award, but he is coming up against a serious opponent in Hickey who is capable of holding the best. If Waterford opt to pump high ball into Kelly, and that's highly unlikely, it will be meat and drink to Hickey. But Kelly can trouble the Kilkenny man with his pace if the ball is placed into space, and given his history of hamstring problems, this tactic could make for an uncomfortable afternoon for the full back. Tweet

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