THEY wouldn't dream of saying so out loud, naturally, but Kilkenny expect to beat Wexford today and beat them handsomely. Yet there's more to it than that. Beating Wexford handsomely wouldn't make Kilkenny happy, nor would it be good for them. What's at play here is almost a form of hurling schizophrenia, for the McCarthy Cup holders would much prefer to pip Wexford after an epic struggle than to hammer them.

Certainly both Kilkenny and Wexford fans want to see a really good Leinster final, irrespective of who wins. People involved in hurling in the province always do, and never more so than this year in view of all the excitement provided by the Munster championship. For a thriller to ensue today, the first and primary requirement is for Wexford to turn up and be genuinely competitive. This in turn will entail every player being competitive for the full game. That hasn't been happening in recent years with the county.

On their good days, Wexford are invariably competitive. Think, for instance, of their National League quarter-final win against Galway, one of the favourites for the All Ireland, at Nowlan Park in April. On their bad days, however - well, that's quite a different story. Wexford came a heavy cropper in their very next match, the league semi-final against Kilkenny, losing by 2-22 to 2-7.

Two wildly contrasting performances in the space of eight days.

More schizophrenia.

But their achievement in reaching the league semi-final for the first time since 1996 was an indication of the progress Wexford have made under the guidance of John Meyler. Now we'll see if the manager and his selectors have taken on board the lessons of the Kilkenny defeat. A glance at the Wexford line-up today suggests that they have.

The most eye-catching move is that of Doc O'Connor from corner-back to centre-forward. In defence he was leaking scores;

in attack he has the opportunity to create them, as he did for Nigel Higgins's goal in the Leinster semi-final against Dublin. A succession of Wexford managers have placed their faith in Doc, but the truth of the matter is that he hasn't delivered what he's capable of for quite a while now.

God knows he's big enough and strong enough, crucial attributes in an era when Wexford aren't blessed with big men. He's also well able to hurl. No more excuses, Doc: it's time to stand and deliver. Don't let your career come to a halt just as you should be entering your prime.

Speaking of corner-backs, Malachy Travers is one of Wexford's smallest players, much like Tommy Walsh is with Kilkenny.

But also like Walsh, Travers shows immense commitment to the county colours. Surely every Wexford player is capable of following Travers' example. For the underdogs to stay afloat today, they'll have to.

The selection of Stephen Nolan, another tall and strapping individual, at wingforward alongside Doc O'Connor means that Wexford take the field with a half-forward line chosen for their ballwinning capabilities.

Eking out a respectable quota of primary possession will be another basic requirement for the underdogs, as it is for any team facing Kilkenny. Walsh and JJ Delaney may not be built like giants, but they're giants under the dropping ball. At very worst, Doc and Nolan must break even. Allow their opponents to dominate and the Kilkenny forward line will receive a liberal supply of possession from out the field. You know they won't waste it.

If they can't win it cleanly in the air, the Kilkenny forwards will knock down the sliotar in all directions to colleagues. In that case it'll be up to the Wexford backs to get to the breaking ball first. Concentration, absolute determination and focus will be essential qualities here.

The underdogs have a capable midfield pairing in Diarmuid Lyng and Eoin Quigley, who between them won an ocean of ball against Dublin but were guilty of a number of bad wides (eight, to be precise). Faulty shooting can be corrected. The Lyng/Quigley partnership's use of the sliotar - where they direct it, when they choose to pass and when they opt to shoot - will have to be spot-on today.

Absent for the league, Nigel Higgins returned to the fold for the Dublin match and retains his position, captaining the side as Rathnure's only representative.

One can understand why some Wexford supporters and members of the panel may not be thrilled by this, but Higgins is one of the best forwards in the county, even if he's lacking match practice. And again, on the evidence of the league semi-final, his is the kind of forceful presence the attack is crying out for. Should Darren Stamp raise his game at full-forward and Rory Jacob chase every single ball for the collective good, the inside line of the attack will carry more bite than it's done in recent seasons.

Three years ago, much the same group of players brought a plan to combat Kilkenny with them to the Leinster semi-final.

It worked brilliantly. They'll need another plan this afternoon. Never a Wexford forte, ground hurling might be a useful weapon. Moving the sliotar quickly would keep the opposition defence on the back foot. Force defenders to turn and you put them under pressure. Put defenders under pressure and anything can happen.

To be fair to Wexford, it's important to understand where both counties are coming from.

Kilkenny played a round of their club championship the midweek before last.

Good hard competitive games sharpen players. Full marks to Kilkenny; all their club matches are competitive. Because Wexford clubs are also involved in football, it's not possible for their players to line out for their clubs on as regular a basis. Advantage Kilkenny.

But Richie Power, who scored nine points in the league semifinal, tweaked a hamstring at the weekend and Aidan Fogarty, who hit 2-1 in the same match, is out through injury. Still, the holders have plenty of replacements, with the Ballyhale Shamrocks supplying the likes of Eoin Reid and Michael Fennelly. Their popular clubmate and all-round hurling icon Henry Shefflin is Kilkenny's captain. Every man on the panel will want to win the All Ireland for King Henry.

Rank outsiders with nothing to lose, Wexford have a chance. A slim chance, granted, but a chance nonetheless. It can even be argued that this is a stronger team physically than the one that upset the reigning champions in 2004. Although I don't expect history to repeat itself, the Wexford players would do well to remember John Meyler's commitment to his native county. Living in Cork, he makes a round trip of 250 miles a minimum of three days a week in an unfashionable cause for no salary, all for the love of Wexford.

Because of Meyler's wonderful enthusiasm and because of Wexford's proud tradition, I'll be disappointed if the challengers aren't within four points of Kilkenny at the finish. Do that and they'll head for the quarterfinals with their confidence intact. That would be a significant step in the right direction.

A significant step of a different kind was taken 11 days ago by the Offaly under-21s, who defeated Kilkenny at Nowlan Park to reach the provincial final. Excellent. There they'll face a Dublin team who beat a gallant Wexford in the other semi-final.

Watch out today for a highly promising Dublin minor team coached by Wexfordman Joe Fortune. Don't forget either that Castleknock recently won the Feile na nGael Division 1 title, thanks in no small part to the input of another Wexfordman, Robert Tierney. All fine Wexford men doing it for hurling. The Wexford men on view today need to do it for themselves.