Injuries to key men have reduced Waterford hopes of success in their hurling championship opener against Clare in Limerick on Sunday week.

Definitely out at this stage are Ken McGrath (knee), Paul Flynn (ankle) and Eoin Murphy (broken arm) and while Dan Shanahan (knee), Stephen Molumphy (shoulder) and Seamus Prendergast (shoulder) are likely to make it, there is a bigger doubt about chief marksman Eoin Kelly who had a plaster removed from his broken finger only last week.

Ken McGrath had exploratory keyhole surgery on his knee on Tuesday and is still awaiting a full prognosis while Eoin Murphy is responding well to treatment and may play a part towards the end of the season if the side are still involved.

Paul Flynn has only recently rejoined the panel and is as yet uncertain as to whether his ankle, on which he has had surgery, will recover sufficiently to allow him play in what is likely to be his final inter-county season.