This mouth-watering duel is worth the admission fee alone. Viewed by many as the two outstanding hurlers of their generation, they will finally come face to face on the biggest stage of all following Waterford's qualification for the All-Ireland final for the first time in 45 years. Shefflin is one of the sport's most decorated players, and is one of a select band of current Kilkenny hurlers bidding to win their sixth All-Ireland medal. His scoring prowess, which was once again clear for all to see in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Cork when he racked up 0-9, has made him the most dangerous forward in the game over the past decade. He is a sporting icon, something which was underlined by his selection as RTE's Sports Personality of the Year in 2006. The Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman must have experienced mixed emotions after last year's All-Ireland final where he captained Kilkenny to victory, but was forced off just before half-time with a ruptured cruciate ligament which kept him sidelined until the start of this year's championship. But it seemed as if he had never been away as he fired 0-11 against Offaly and also tormented Wexford in the Leinster final. Hurling fans everywhere are thrilled to see Ken McGrath finally getting the opportunity to play in an All-Ireland final. For more than a decade, he has been Waterford's most influential player and will be hoping to repeat the form that saw him named man of the match in last year's National League final victory over the Cats. The experiment of playing him at full back was abandoned at the start of the All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary, which allowed him to give a typically commanding performance in his preferred centre back position. What was noticeable the last day was how McGrath was always looking to find one of his forwards with his long clearances from defence, rather than just leathering the ball down the field as he might have done in the past. 'King Henry' is capable of stealing a few scores off the best of defenders and will punish any discretion by the Waterford backs. But he will have the added responsibility of trying to curb McGrath's influence on the game. Brian Cody doesn't need to be told that if you stop the Mount Sion colossus, the chances are you will stop Waterford as well. Tweet

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