Paul Murphy has been restored to the right corner back berth, taking over from the benched Conor Fogarty, while Ger Aylward makes way for Richie Power in a reshuffled attack.

Long-serving Kilkenny manager Brian Cody will be a notable absentee from the sideline at Semple Stadium tomorrow afternoon as he continues his recovery from recent cardiac surgery.

Selector Martin Fogarty and team trainer Michael Dempsey are in charge of the Cats during Cody's time off, as they look to retain the Division 1 crown before turning their attention to the Championship.

This will be Kilkenny's sixth clash with Galway since last April. The sides' last meeting in the opening round of this season's league ended in a 3-11 to 0-17 win for the Tribesmen in Salthill, on a day when Richie Power notched 0-8 for the visitors.

Kilkenny posted a 3-26 to 0-10 victory over Galway during the 2012 league campaign, while they famously won another All-Ireland title last September with a 3-22 to 3-11 replay defeat of Anthony Cunningham's charges.

KILKENNY (v Galway): Eoin Murphy; Paul Murphy, JJ Delaney, Jackie Tyrrell; Tommy Walsh, Brian Hogan, Kieran Joyce; Lester Ryan, Michael Rice; Walter Walsh, Richie Power, Eoin Larkin; Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan, Aidan Fogarty.