We've seen it before. Kilkenny suffer a rare off day - in this case against Clare in the Allianz League semi-final - but bounce back to win the All-Ireland a few months later… and Brian Cody telling us how that defeat was the turning point in their season.

There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded Cat and Kilkenny will have a big point to prove when they begin their quest for a 71^st provincial title against either Dublin or Wexford, who face off in their quarter-final at Croke Park tomorrow. The concession of 4-22 against the Banner will fill Kilkenny's rivals with hope, but their defence is unlikely to be so generous again and the return of the Fennellys, Michael and Colin, along with Conor Fogarty and Eoin Larkin, will make them a different proposition in the championship.

Dublin famously beat the Cats after a replay en route to ending a 52-year wait for Bob O'Keeffe Cup honours in 2013 and impressed in this year's Allianz League before surprisingly losing to Limerick in the quarter-final. Even without the retired Conal Keaney, they will be favourites to account for Wexford, but this game could go either way after the Slaneysiders showed a welcome return to form in their narrow league quarter-final loss to Waterford.

Galway are strong favourites to emerge from the other side of the draw, especially in light of Offaly's sharp decline. They will open their campaign against an improving Westmeath outfit in Mullingar, while Laois will face the round-robin series runners-up (either Offaly or Kerry) in the other quarter-final.

The Tribesmen put their heads on the block when they got rid of Anthony Cunningham at the end of last season and it was noticeable how there was little sympathy for them when they suffered league relegation in the spring. They came out second best against Kilkenny in last year's Leinster and All-Ireland finals. Will it be third time lucky this summer? Anything is possible with Galway, but the Cats are the safe bet.

Predictions:

Champions: Kilkenny; Runners-up: Galway

Odds (supplied by Paddy Power)

Kilkenny 8/13; Galway 7/4; Dublin 10/1; Wexford 28/1; Laois 100/1; Kerry 150/1; Westmeath 200/1; Offaly 200/1; Carlow 750/1.

Fixtures/Results

May 1: Round Robin Round 1: Westmeath 2-22 Offaly 1-11, TEG, Cusack Park; Kerry 2-19 Carlow 0-17, Tralee.

May 7: Round Robin Round 2: Westmeath 1-18 Kerry 1-13, Tralee; Offaly 1-17 Carlow 2-11, O'Connor Park.

May 21: Quarter-final: Dublin v Wexford, Croke Park.

May 22: Round Robin Round 3: Carlow v Westmeath, Netwatch Cullen Park; Offaly v Kerry, O'Connor Park.

June 5: Quarter-final: Round Robin winners v Galway; Round Robin runners-up v Laois.

June 11: Semi-final: Dublin/Wexford v Kilkenny; Wexford Innovate Park or O'Moore Park.

June 19: Semi-final: Round Robin winners/Galway v Round Robin runnersup/Laois.

July 2: Final, Croke Park.

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