Allianz Hurling League permutations: Crunch time for Dublin and Waterford

We're nearing the finish line in Allianz Hurling League group stages that will have big repercussions for next season.

In 2025, for the first time in 12 years, only teams from Division 1A will be eligible to win the Division 1 title, with 1B serving as Division 2 in all but name.

The fact that there will also be seven teams in each division will make for a greater disparity between the tiers, and counties seem to be showing more appetite for the spring contests as a result.

At the outset last month, it seemed more likely that the best fourth-placed team - a play-off only happens if scores are identical - would come from Division 1 Group B but Dublin’s underwhelming form has put them in danger of the drop.

If the top two divisions next year were being calculated based on current positions, they would comprise:

Division 1A: Kilkenny, Clare, Wexford, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Cork

Division 1B: Waterford, Offaly, Dublin, Westmeath, Antrim, Carlow, Laois

Heading into this weekend’s penultimate round of fixtures, it is clear that some counties have a lot of work to do if they are to qualify for the upper tier.

In Group A, Cork will expect to win in Offaly, bringing them to 4 points, while Wexford would move to 5 if they beat Waterford (2).

Both results combined would make it impossible for Davy Fitzgerald's men to finish fourth as Cork have the edge on them on the head to head. A draw in Walsh Park would take things to the final day.

The winners of Kilkenny v Clare (both 5) will guarantee their place in the semi-finals if the Yellowbellies aren’t victorious. A draw would put them both through if the Déise take the points.

In Group B, All-Ireland and League champions Limerick face the only other side with a 100% record in Tipperary.