The Waterford and Tipperary hurlers both have significant injury headaches ahead of the upcoming Munster Championship round-robin.
Both teams will likely be without former Hurler of the Year winners for their opening encounters.
The Déise, who face All-Ireland champions Limerick on Sunday April 23, will have to plan without Austin Gleeson.
The Mount Sion star, along with Iarlaith Daly and Shane McNulty, will miss the meeting with the Treaty and their second match against Cork.
“Unfortunately, time looks like it’s going to run out on them,” selector Peter Queally said (quote via RTÉ).
“One or two might see 10 or 15 minutes but definitely not full games in either of the first two fixtures.
“What we’re looking at is getting them back for the third fixture (against Clare), really.”
Meanwhile, the Premier County also have their own headaches. They will have to go without the services of Seamus Callanan. The Drom-Inch club man, who was the 2019 Hurler of the Year, has not played a championship match since the 2021 All-Ireland quarter-final.
“Seamie is progressing nicely,” said Liam Cahill. “We haven’t really done any aggressive work yet. We’ll press the button to see how he reacts. I imagine it will probably be a race against time to be ready for Ennis but Cathal Barrett is progressing nicely.”
Tipp travel to Cusack Park for their opening assignment in just over two weeks.
