Jamesie O'Connor
Two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare on BBC Sport NI

The head is probably saying Cork in that they've beaten Limerick twice this year. If they reach that level again, it'll be hard to see them beaten. But Clare beat them last year in Ennis and down in Cork earlier in the championship.

I give the Banner every chance. If their big guns can fire and if they deliver a more consistent performance than we've seen so far, they just might have enough. That might be the heart overruling the head, but that's who I'm going with.

Clare have only ever won four All-Ireland titles and 11 years since they beat Cork in 2013. The Rebels haven't tasted All-Ireland success in 19 years, which is a famine of unimaginable proportions given their long history and tradition.

A win would mean the world to both counties and kick off a month of celebrations.

Neil McManus
Former Antrim star on BBC Sport NI

Cork must shut down Clare's two star men in Tony Kelly and Shane O'Donnell. Ciaran Joyce and Kelly will be a huge battle, likewise with Eoin Downey marking O'Donnell, who has really steadied up that Cork defence along with his brother Robert Downey.

A real source of strength for Clare is their replacements, Cathal Malone and David Fitzgerald have formed a brilliant midfield partnership. Although neither of them had a major impact on the semi-final, that doesn't mean they couldn't come out and really take this game by the scruff of the neck.

Cork, however, have played with real freedom in and around the middle too while Darragh Fitzgibbon has just been electric. His athleticism really allows him to express himself in the open spaces of Croke Park.

I think he's in hurler-of-the-year form, along with Shane O’Donnell. Whoever comes out on top, that could be the deciding factor. It’s really nicely set up.

Patrick Horgan could have a definitive say in this tie without having set the world alight this season, but Cork's renaissance is largely due to their half-forward line.

If that Clare half-back line can curb the influence of Cork's half-forwards, I think it tips the scales in Clare's favour.

Image source, Inpho

Seamus Flanagan
Five-time All-Ireland winner with Limerick on BBC Sport NI

I'm looking forward to seeing Shane Barrett and John Conlon, that's going to be a titanic battle. They're two contrasting styles in that Conlon likes to sit back and control the game whereas Barrett is very much an attacking player, looking to take on his man and a goal opportunity.

In terms of the Clare backline, I'm looking forward to seeing Conor Cleary and who he picks up, whether that's Brian Hayes, Alan Connolly or Patrick Horgan. That's going to be a big battle. Whoever wins that will have a fair say on who wins the game.

And there is the age-old question of who will pick up Tony Kelly? Other than that, I'll be interested to see Shane O'Donnell and whether he plays inside or outside. Sean O'Donoghue could pick him up, he picked him up earlier in the year down in Cork. If Cork can limit O'Donnell, they'll limit a lot of scores from the Clare side.

Here's how Clare reached the All-Ireland SHC final for the first time since 2013 after fighting back to beat Kilkenny 0-24 to 2-16 at Croke Park.

Here is how Cork overcame five-in-a-row chasing Limerick with a dramatic 1-28 to 0-19 win in the semi-final at Croke Park.

Austin Gleeson
Waterford forward on BBC Sport NI

It will be hard for Cork to get to that level we saw against Limerick again.

I don't think Clare have reached the potential they are capable of so I'm going to tip Clare, just about. They'll win by one or two points.

It'll be tight and high-scoring but Clare will come out on top, like in the Munster Championship.

One of the key battles could be David Fitzgerald on Ciaran Joyce possibly. Tim O'Mahony followed Cian Lynch the last day so it could be that Joyce follows Fitzgerald or O'Mahony follows Fitzgerald.

Whoever comes out on top there will be huge.

Ahead of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final, Antrim legend Neil McManus explains the rules of the game.

We're on the box - and other devices - now with our BBC Two network (for the first time at an All-Ireland Hurling Final) and iPlayer coverage up and running.

The hurling aficionados among you know what today is all about but those who don't, I promise you, are in for a thrilling spectacle.

You will marvel at the speed, athleticism, bravery, accuracy and sheer bloody-mindedness on show today.

Enjoy every minute of it.

Deafening from the Cork fans as their team are also out onto the pitch.

A huge roar goes up as the Clare team emerge from the tunnel.

Both Clare and Cork have opted to go with the same starting line-ups that brought them to today's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final.

There are no late curveballs from either manager, but this game could come down to who finishes and Clare manager Brian Lohan has plenty of game-changers in the form of Ryan Taylor and Aron Shanagher whose introduction helped them get over the line against Kilkenny.

As for those starting, much of the pre-match debate has surrounded just where Shane O'Donnell will play. The Hurler of the Year contender is wearing 14 on his back and he may indeed play a lot closer to goal today alongside Aidan McCarthy who was dead-eyed from frees in the semi-final win under immense pressure.

Cork boss Pat Ryan will look for more of the same from his team and like Lohan, has plenty of legs on the bench on the form of Shane Kingston and Robbie O'Flynn.

Darragh Fitzgibbon is a driving force for the Rebels at midfield, but Ciaran Joyce - named at wing-back but expected to start in the engine room with Tim O'Mahony dropping back - is a perfect partner for the Charleville man.

They are skippered by Seán O'Donoghue - red-carded when Clare won the Munster Championship meeting between the pair in April - but have plenty of leaders in the form of Séamus Harnedy at wing-forward and spiritual leader, Patrick Horgan who enters today just two points off TJ Reid on the all-time scoring charts.

Clare: Eibhear Quilligan; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Conor Leen; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney; David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone; Tony Kelly, Mark Rodgers, Peter Duggan; Aidan McCarthy, Shane O'Donnell, David Reidy.

Subs: Cian Broderick, Rory Hayes, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Darragh Lohan, Ryan Taylor, Seadna Morey, Aaron Shanagher, Ian Galvin, Shane Meehan, Robin Mounsey.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue; Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Seamus Harnedy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Millerick, Tommy O’Connell, Luke Meade, Ethan Twomey, Conor Lehane, Jack O’Connor, Shane Kingston, Padraig Power, Robbie O’Flynn.

The Irish Prime Minister or more accurately Taoiseach, Simon Harris is a Wicklow man so not sure who he is rooting for today.

It's de rigueur for An Taoiseach to be present at All-Ireland Senior Finals so expect to see him popping up in the TV coverage this afternoon.

Image source, Inpho

Paul Murphy
Four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny on BBC Sport NI

I'm going for a Clare win, just about, possibly by a point or two.

Darragh Fitzgibbon is in hurler of the year form, especially after he popped up with three points in the semi-final. He has a huge engine and covers a lot of ground. Shane O'Donnell is in similar form for Clare. He's been immense all year and scored a hat-trick in the 2013 final replay against Cork, of course.

How Clare mark Fitzgibbon will be key, likewise what Cork to do to mark O'Donnell.

Ryan Taylor could be one to look out for. He came on the last day from the bench, had six possessions and set up a few scores. He could have another huge impact.

The Cork team that won the All-Ireland final in 1999 is now being introduced to the crowd as this year's Jubilee Team. Not all of them are out on the field as current manager Pat Ryan is a little busy preparing today's team for battle, as are his selectors Wayne Sherlock and Brendan Coleman.

Davy Fitzgerald has backed his native county Clare to win the All-Ireland Hurling final, saying the Bannermen hold no fear after beating the Rebels in their past two championship meetings.

Clare and Cork will contest one of the most anticipated deciders in recent years after they beat Kilkenny and holders Limerick in their respective semi-finals.

When the sides met in the Munster round-robin series in April, Clare edged a thrilling Munster round-robin game 3-26 to 3-24 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Fitzgerald, who masterminded Clare's last All-Ireland triumph as manager in 2013 (beating Cork in the replayed final), is confident his former team-mate Brian Lohan will lead the county back to the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

"I believe there is a massive performance in this team. I've seen patches of it but I haven't seen it for 70 minutes," Fitzgerald told the BBC's GAA Social podcast.

"The second half against Kilkenny, pretty decent, but the first half wasn't good enough. They know that.

"Tony [Kelly] had a terrible injury earlier on in the year and has been slow getting back, I can see signs of him getting there. He's incredible. He's coming back to his best and playing Cork will suit him.

"It's going to be free-flowing. That suits Clare, suits Cork as well. There will be a lot of scores in this game. Both defences are coughing up enough."

Read more from Fitzgerald here.

Image source, Inpho

Cork fans are ready for the big day, although do spare a thought for this Clare supporter desperately trying to get a last-minute ticket for the big occasion.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

BBC iPlayer

This is your 30 minute warning if you want to see all the build-up.

For the first time, the All-Ireland hurling final will be broadcast on BBC network television. You can watch on BBC Two, BBC Two Northern Ireland, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

Coverage begins at 15:00 BST. Presenter Sarah Mulkerrins and pitchside reporter Mark Sidebottom will be joined by a star-studded cast of pundits, including:

• Jamesie O'Connor (two-time All-Ireland winner with Clare)
• Seamus Flanagan (five-time All-Ireland winner with Limerick)
• Paul Murphy (four-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny)
• Austin Gleeson (All-Star Waterford hurler)
• Neil McManus (legendary Antrim hurler)

Thomas Niblock will be joined on commentary by O'Connor.

Former rugby stars Tommy Bowe and Alun Wyn Jones are in attendance at today's final while proud Cork man Roy Keane has also been spotted at Croke Park.

Image source, Inpho

Neil McManus
Former Antrim star on BBC Sport NI

The top five forwards of my generation are Kilkenny's TJ Reid and Richie Hogan, Seamus Callanan of Tipperary, Joe Canning of Galway, and Cork's Patrick Horgan.

All of them have All-Ireland medals in their back pocket except for Patrick Horgan.

After 17 seasons lining out for the Rebels and over a record 700 championship points scored, is this the year that he finally gets his hands on a Celtic Cross?

Standing in his way is Clare's Tony Kelly, who is aiming to become only the third Banner captain - after Anthony Daly in 1995 and 1997 and Patrick Donnellan in 2013 - to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup since the trophy was first awarded in 1923.

Both sides have lit the All-Ireland series alight this year, but come Sunday evening I think we will hear the Banner roar echoing around the cauldron of Croke Park.

This Clare team are just ready to go all the way. There's a huge buzz around the county having finally overcome their semi-final hoodoo.

Brian Lohan was twice successful on the big day as a full-back in the 1995 and 1997 winning teams and now in his fifth year as manager will feel it is their time again.

There is a collective within this Clare team that will feel this is their last chance, and they will want to take advantage of that (nine of the starting team are now edging into their 30s).

It's a different story for Cork. Other than Patrick Horgan and Seamus Harnedy, their starting 15 are a very young group. The overall need is greater in that Clare squad.

Image source, Inpho

Something to whet the appetite for this afternoon's highly anticipated final.

The live coverage of the game begins at 15:00 BST across the BBC network.