For many hurling afficionados it's the highlight of the summer tomorrow - Munster senior hurling final day.

Eamon O'Shea and his Tipperary players enter the decider as 4/9 favourites but they face a Waterford team who have rose to every challenge they have met so far this year.

Derek McGrath's charges are aiming to win their first provincial title since 2010 and, following their well-deserved league success, they will approach the game in a confident frame of mind.

They inflicted a 1-19 to 2-15 semi-final defeat on the Premier County en route to league glory but Tipp have held the upper hand in the last four championship meetings between the counties.

O'Shea and his selectors have made two changes to the team which handed Limerick a 4-23 to 1-16 semi-final lesson.

Cathal Barrett (right corner-back) and Michael Breen (right half-back) come in to the starting 15.

"We're coming up against a team that's unbeaten and that's a formidable challenge," O'Shea pointed out.

"[Waterford have] loads of energy and loads of skill. Their hurley passing is really impressive as well. They're formidable. When you win, you look like the most prepared team in the world. You have to be conscious of the opposition but you have to be most conscious of yourself."

One thing for certain is that McGrath will have the Deise well prepared.

The Waterford manager is a big admirer of tomorrow's opponents:  "When you have a forward line with Brendan Maher, 'Bonnar' Maher, 'Bubbles' O'Dwyer, Seamie Callanan, Niall O'Meara, Jason Forde, Lar Corbett from the bench and Noel McGrath, please God, to come back into it, I think you have brilliant players and brilliant stick men.

"We have good players as well and I'm not just trying to build up one team. I just don't think that Tipperary players have got the credit that they deserve over the years."

Verdict - Tipperary.

Tipperary team: Darren Gleeson; Cathal Barrett, James Barry, Ronan Maher; Michael Breen, Padraic Maher, Kieran Bergin; James Woodlock, Shane McGrath; Jason Forde, Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher; John O'Dwyer, Seamus Callanan, Niall O'Meara.

Waterford team: tbc.

Match details: Sunday; Semple Stadium; 4pm.

Referee: James Owens.

Odds: Tipperary 4/9; Draw 9/1; Waterford 12/5.

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