Laois will be a tough test: Danny Sutcliffe

Danny Sutcliffe knows the Dublin hurlers will have to be at their best in Sunday's NHL Division 1B clash with Laois in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise (2.30).

The prize of a quarter-final slot is the lure for the winners while a relegation play-off awaits the Dubs if they fail to win.

The St Jude's man is hoping it's a clash that brings the best of out Pat Gilroy's men.

"The bigger scheme of things is you get a quarter-final (if you win), that's the bonus game you want to get," says Danny.

"You want to test yourself. You'd probably be looking at Wexford or Clare if you were to win it – for Laois or for us.

"It is massive. We can't start looking at the consequences of what happens after it.

"We just have to prepare for Sunday as you'd prepare for Galway. We can't start thinking anything else.

"It's a tough place to go. I've gone there before.

"They'll really get behind them down there as well, especially if they get a sniff or a bit of momentum, they really get loud," adds Danny. 

"So it's a tough one, Sunday. It would probably have been a bit quieter if we'd gone in the week after the Galway game.

"The week off has given it a bit of time to give it a bit of a lift again, and probably put a lot of emphasis on it."