"Rushey would be the last doubt but we would be positive enough (about his chances)," admitted Daly at an Allianz Hurling League final press conference this afternoon.

"We played a bit of a match in training on Tuesday night. He didn't play in that, but we are hopeful that by giving him as much time as possible (he will be OK)."

In a further boost for Daly's charges, Joey Boland is expected to play through the pain barrier to bolster the Dublin defence this weekend.

Boland has been out of action since he broke a metatarsal bone in his foot in the defeat to Galway last month.

"He broke the bone just under his toe and we got it X-rayed again because it looked fairly well," added Daly.

"I'd say he is playing a bit through the pain barrier but it is probably nothing that is going to kill him either, so he will be alright."

Former Limerick player Maurice O'Brien is also back from injury, but his return is expected to have come too soon for a start this Sunday.

"He is probably over the hump of his injury now, but you never know with ankle injuries.

"He got some game-time against Cork but it has probably come too soon to play 70 minutes. Hopefully he will get some game-time at some stage."

While most of Daly's players are on the mend, his opposite number Brian Cody has more serious injury doubts.

Cody, who saw his side top the Division 1 table, said: "There are a couple of lads we are still not sure about but definitely out are Henry (Shefflin), John Tennyson, Aidan Fogarty, Richie Power and Michael Fennelly.

"Eoin Larkin got injured with his club last Sunday. He is not definitely out, but we won't know about him until tomorrow night.

"Tommy (Walsh) played with his club last Sunday. I'm not certain if he is going to be available for Sunday. That is the extent of our injuries I think."

Cody took on the Kilkenny managerial role in the autumn of 1998, and the current injury list is one of the worst he has experienced.

However, he has played down the significance of those injuries and instead reflected on the players who are available to him this week.

"It sounds like a lot of men are missing alright, but I wouldn't be talking too much about injuries.

"The focus will be on the fellas who are playing. This is an opportunity for anyone. At the end of the day, it won't be a story who is going to be on the team anyway if everybody was fit.

"It's tough luck on the lads who can't play, that's for certain. You would have to feel sorry for them but we can't dwell on it."