Mind games are part and parcel of the build-up to a big game, according to Waterford manager Derek McGrath.

In advance of Sunday's Division 1 decider, McGrath's selector Dan Shanahan is on record as saying that Clare are 'streets ahead' of the Deise while Davy Fitzgerald has claimed that Waterford are the best team in the country at the minute.

So what's McGrath's take on things?

"I'm conscious of psychological mind games in the run-in to the match where each team management builds the others up as favourites," McGrath remarked to The Examiner.

"To me, there is a gap there between the development phases of the teams if you'd like. Clare have been there and done it; we haven't. Clare are now where we would like to be in a few years."

He recalled: "I was in having the tea in my mother and father's house and my dad said, 'Davy said we're the best team in the country'.

"Listen, that's understandable, that's anyone's prerogative. I'm probably doing it, I'm contradicting myself by doing the same. I actually genuinely believe Clare are the best team in the country.

"Shane Bennett did his Leaving Cert last year. Austin Gleeson is 20 years of age. Patrick Curran is 20 years of age. Tom Devine is 20 years of age.

"If you had told a Waterford person two years ago Barry Coughlan would be full-back, Tadhg de Burca would be centre-back, Patrick Curran would be centre-forward and Tom Devine would be full-forward...

"Conor McGrath, Tony Kelly, brilliant players that have won three All-Ireland U21s and a senior All-Ireland. They are at a different level in terms of development.

"That's not to say on any given day we wouldn't feel we can just come from nowhere, like they did. The argument is that was in 2013, that we might be able to spring. That's possible if you like, but that's the reasoning behind my argument."

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