Galway senior camogie players open their Liberty Insurance Championship campaign when they face Dublin at Parnells GAA on Saturday (2.30pm ).
Dublin have already opened their campaign with a 3-11 to 1-14 win over Clare, while Kilkenny were handy winners away to Waterford by 2-15 to 0-6 in the other group one fixture.
It is Galway's first competitive outing in some 10 weeks since losing their league semi-final to Kilkenny by 1-14 to 0-11 in April.
However Galway manager Mark Dunne says despite the disappointment, his players learned a lot from that defeat to Kilkenny.
"There seems to be improvement after improvement, but when we get out on the field, it will tell us exactly where we are," Dunne says.
He has used the month-long preparation since players returned from club action to introduce some young blood into the squad, some of whom were in action last weekend for the intermediates.
"Some featured in the intermediate match and for them to get that game time under their belt will help. There is some serious competition now for places and no one is guaranteed a place," he says. "The younger players have added freshness, brought a new buzz, and are keeping players on their toes."
Backboned by a core of players, such as Heather Cooney, star forward Niamh McGrath, scorer-in-chief Ailish O'Reilly, Niamh Kilkenny, the Mullagh pair, Aoife Donohue and Sarah Dervan, Dunne also has some much-needed experience in the squad as they face a confident Dublin who showed considerable mettle to come from behind last weekend.
Dunne says it serves as a warning that Dublin is an improving side which is benefiting from good structures.
"Last year Galway took them by suprise, but it's championship now and and you can't take anything for granted. They will be up for his match having won last week and will fancy their chances so we have to be prepared for it.
"It is all about performance, and if we perform like we can, the result will take care of itself. I have no worries about what our players will bring, I am very positive about where we are."
Also boosted with no injuries., Dunne will name his team this evening.
