The provincial champions are edging closer to their conclusions but, with two rounds of fixtures to go, and to paraphrase Murray Walker, anything might happen and it usually does.
MUNSTER SHC
19 May
Clare v Waterford
Tipperary v Cork
26 May
Limerick v Waterford
Tipperary v Clare
Limerick's defence of their Munster title suffered a blow last weekend with defeat to Cork in an epic but John Kiely and his charges know that a place in the provincial decider is still in their hands.
While the Treaty are not in action this weekend, one side that is and who must almost certainly win again in order to extend their summer are the Rebels.
They make the trip to take on old foes Tipperary at Thurles on Sunday afternoon, having already lost to both Clare and Waterford, which is critical.
Cork might end up finishing on the same points as either county, but their head to head record works against them in either instance, so they would be hoping for three-way ties and score difference instead.
One positive for Pat Ryan and his players is the fact that they will have an extra week of recovery should they extend their year beyond Sunday afternoon.
If Tipp can win their remaining two games then they're guaranteed a top-three spot, and potentially a Munster final place, depending on results elsewhere.
Place in the decider on the cards for Banner or Déise
The other game down south this weekend sees Clare host Waterford at Ennis.
The Banner snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against Limerick on the opening weekend before getting their season back on track against Cork. Two victories in their remaining fixtures would see them into the provincial final, while a defeat in one would keep things open.
The Déise surprised the Rebels on day one before only taking a point from their meeting with Tipp, having led that fixture by four points late on.
Unbeaten so far, a place in the final is very much still in Waterford's hands but they are facing the two pre-competition favourites in their last two fixtures, so two defeats could yet see them end up in the bottom two, a position in which they've found themselves in every running of the Munster round robin since its introduction back in 2018.
LEINSTER SHC
18-19 May
Antrim v Galway
Dublin v Kilkenny
Carlow v Wexford
26 May
Galway v Dublin
Kilkenny v Wexford
Antrim v Carlow
Moving east, and to a Leinster Championship that has ended up more open than many predicted.
Galway, with echoes of Wexford a few weeks ago, must now try to put a disappointing result behind them with a trip to Corrigan Park in Saturday's opening fixture.
Antrim's shot a Leinster final spot
The Saffrons have twice made it to the All-Ireland final but they have never appeared in the showpiece game in the Leinster championship. They can reach six points with wins from their final two games though and that might be enough to make it to Croke Park next month.
Galway though, even in the form they've been in this year, are a different kettle of fish to Wexford. And despite some of the apparent negativity around the squad, two wins from two - against Antrim and Dublin - and they'll be exactly where most people thought they might be - in the Leinster final.
From Corrigan Park, attention will move down the coast to Donnycarney where Dublin are set to host Kilkenny on Saturday evening.
A Jack may look at a Cat
The Cats are the one team Dublin hate facing, with just one victory over them in championship since WWII. A draw would be enough for the Sky Blues to guarantee themselves a top-three spot - barring a Kilkenny draw with Wexford following 20-point win for Wexford over Carlow - while a win could see them into the final with a round to spare.
If Galway and Kilkenny win their last two games, the third spot may well come down to score difference between Dublin and Wexford.
There's a little bit of pressure on Derek Lyng's Kilkenny heading to Dublin after back-to-back draws, against Galway and Carlow, but qualification for another Leinster decider is still very much in their own hands.
Which Wexford will show up?
Wexford make the short trip to neighbours Carlow on Sunday afternoon knowing they'll face a side buoyed by that historic draw with Kilkenny last Saturday.
The Yellowbellies' victory over Galway last time has reignited their hopes of securing a spot in the Leinster final whereas another defeat to a side they're favoured to beat would drag them back into the relegation conversation.
While Carlow can't reach the Leinster final at this stage, they can maintain their status in the province for another season.
A win over Wexford would put them in a great position to finish ahead of Antrim, with the current bottom two set to lock horns on Sunday week in Belfast.
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