Relegation to Division 1B would be 'embarrassing' for Kilkenny's players according to TJ Reid.

The All-Ireland champions are faced with a relegation play-off regardless of the outcome of their final group game against Clare this Sunday and Reid, fresh from his All-Ireland Club winning exploits, is ready to throw his shoulder to the wheel.

"To go down to Division 1B would be slightly embarrassing for ourselves. Not for the supporters, but for ourselves going down is not good enough," he told The Irish Daily Mirror.

"So we'll be doing everything we can to beat Clare or whoever it is we play in the play-off. It's not a position that we would like to be in but I haven't been in there in the dressing-room either so I don't know what's the score in there.

"Look, we'll go back in, we'll drive it on and if we can win the relegation game it could kick start the year for us because they've been without six Ballyhale lads so far, four or five other injured lads, that's 10 or 11 players.

"It is an awful lot so hopefully we can get motoring on."

Reid, meanwhile, is tipping club-mate Joey Holden to fill JJ Delaney's boots at full-back for the Cats.

The new Kilkenny captain was 'man-of-the-match' against Kilmallock on Tuesday and Reid sees no reason why he can't carry that form on to the inter-county stage.

"Ah definitely. Look, he'll have competition there with Paul Murphy, the likes of Michael Walsh too but he showed in the club final he's settled in there.

"It's a difficult place to play but I think he's showing form, he's showing strength, he wins aerial ball. He's able to drive out, he's fast, strong, good at the hooking and blocking which you need as a full-back."

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