It mightn’t be hurling weather but that’s what we’ll have this weekend when the small ball returns in the guise of the Allianz National Hurling Leagues. Can spring be far behind? Actually, this is supposed to be spring. After all, hurling is meant to be played on pitches that have some life to them. We can only hope that this weekend’s contests don’t end up with regular scrums and necessary throw-ins. Winter hurling can be difficult to watch and even harder to play.

Naturally the top division has thrown up three appetising matches to kick off the league, as per usual, although GAA HQ has decided against the traditional re-pairing of the All-Ireland finalists in the first game.

It is Waterford instead who will provide the guard of honour for the All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in Walsh Park on Sunday afternoon. We can mischievously wonder if Galway’s reluctance to provide the Cats with the traditional guard of honour back in 2013 had anything to do with the scheduling.

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Regardless, the Déise will do what it is right. As is the way, they will line up on two sides, welcome out the champions with the respect they deserve and then tear into them.

The first round of games in the league tend to favour the home sides and that would put Waterford, Galway and Tipperary in the driving seat early on if that panned out. Munster champions Tipp open proceedings in Thurles on Saturday night against a Dublin side that showed a little bit of spark in the Walsh Cup. Under lights and on live TV, this should be a decent contest. Michael Ryan is the new bannisteoir on the Tipp line and he is shorn of a number of players who have retired, some at what could be considered young ages (notably midfield starters James Woodlock and Shane McGrath).

There will be no honeymoon for Ryan as the Premier don’t do such niceties. He has to hit the ground running and a Dublin side without Danny Sutcliffe for the year (so far) will struggle. I’d go with Tipp.

Galway and Cork might be the toughest fixture to diagnose as we have little to go on. A scratch looking Tribesmen lost heavily to Dublin in the Walsh Cup while the Rebels were something similar going out to Clare in the first week of January in the Munster senior league.

Both counties have new managers and both squads have a lot to prove coming off eventful 2015s – probably for the wrong reasons. Morale seems to be low down Leeside – amazingly they appear very short of confidence and Kieran Kingston is charged with reversing the mood. A good hurling man, he will have his work cut out.

Galway were 35 minutes away from winning an All-Ireland title last September but they seem a lot further away now. The squad subsequently pressed the eject button on Anthony Cunningham and that will add pressure to a set-up that sometimes struggles to cope with expectation – real or otherwise. This game could be the relegation playoff in eight weeks’ time.

The All-Ireland champions are decimated again. Retirements, long-term injuries and everyone a year older – they have no chance! Waterford, the young guns, will surely take them.

Three fascinating games but the most important hurling match of the weekend might be in the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night when Limerick take on Wexford, with the loser probably doomed to Division 1B for another season. Perhaps the disaster this used to be is cushioned by the introduction of the league quarter-finals, but for Limerick how long can this misery go on?

Remember Clare are down here as well, so one into three doesn’t go. Limerick have to travel to Ennis in the last round of fixtures, a place they rarely thrive, while the Banner go to Wexford next week in another crucial contest.

For various reasons, all of those three want to be back up with the big boys in Division 1A who are guaranteed at least six hot and heavy matches pre-championship. That’s where the action is and that’s why Limerick have to win on Saturday night.

It’s early days and nights, the ground isn’t Cheltenham-like yet, but it’s still hurling with a bite.

Welcome back.