As per usual, expectations are high in Tipperary hurling circles as the countdown to the start of the Allianz Hurling Leagues continues to gather pace.

The Premier County will entertain Dublin in Semple Stadium on Saturday evening and Noel McGrath said: "There's always a level of expectation in Tipp.

"As players, obviously you want to be as successful as you can and win as much as you can when you're playing. The time flies by so you want to make the most of it when you are able to.

"There's some serious teams out there and serious challenges. Every match you go out is a big match against a serious team.

"We'll be taking every game the same, going as hard as we can, competing as best we can and, hopefully, we'll be successful."

There are big shoes to fill in Tipperary following the retirements of the likes of Lar Corbett, Shane McGrath, James Woodlock and Conor O'Mahony.

"We had a few retirements, lads who were great servants to Tipp over the last 10 or 12 years but, I suppose, we're looking forward now and it's 2016," the 2010 All-Ireland medalist remarked at the launch of the Allianz leagues in Croke Park.

"There are new players in on the panel, they're going to be driving on and pushing for places and, hopefully, some of them will break into the team come the league and the championship."

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