It’s back to matters on the field this weekend as the dust settles from GAA Congress and the subsequent Twitter outrage. There is a full round of league fixtures in both hurling and football down for decision but the weather forecast for the week suggests that some venues will be challenged. Keep an eye on Twitter for updates on Saturday and Sunday.

I’ll be in Thurles for Clare and Tipperary and that field is always playable, even if there is a football curtain-raiser with the All-Ireland semi-finalists taking on Longford in Division 3 at 1pm.

The most attractive double-header of the weekend is in Croke Park where once again the Dubs have put their heads together and come up with excellent value for patrons. Top of the bill is the All-Ireland final rematch of Mayo and Dublin at 7pm – surely that draws a big crowd – while Waterford and the Dubs meet in hurling and that holds appeal too.

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The other Division 1 hurling clash is surely the easiest to call. Cork, bruised and battered by Dublin at home, travel to Nowlan Park to face winless Kilkenny. Poor as the Cats were against Clare, especially in attack, they have to lift it at home in search of a win that would buy them some breathing space. I am not yet in the camp that says Kilkenny are gone but it is gaining more followers. Their performance in Ennis would only ring the February bells. They have more in the tank and while reinforcements are on the way, Eoin Larkin had a point about the new arrivals. Where once Kilkenny blooded one or two, they are now trying out four or five and that is too much of an ask for the established players to carry. Expect that to change on Sunday.

The Rebels quickly found out that one swallow does not make a spring. The pressure they could have avoided with two snap home wins is back with them now. They must show cause on Sunday but Cody’s must be greater.

Unbeaten Tipperary are the class team of the league to date and what worries the rest of the pack is that the Premier are not at full pelt or full strength yet. If the Banner can match the appetite they showed last time out then they will give the All-Ireland champions the game they want. It still must be Tipp but this could be tasty.

Waterford in Croke Park against the resurgent Dubs could be a decent contest too. Ger Cunningham’s makeshift side answered some questions in Páirc Uí Rinn, the main one being about their attitude, which was exemplary. Nothing but a repeat of that will keep them in this game because the Déise have the ability to put them away and Derek McGrath would prefer to have a league quarter-final guaranteed sooner rather than later.

A glance at the calendar shows that Waterford do not emerge in championship until 18 June – a full eight weeks after the league final (23 April). Even if you allow for some warm weather training around Tramore (or perhaps Portugal), the Déise would probably like to be hurling as late as they can in this league. With that in mind, they get Saturday night’s vote.

It is difficult to talk about football this week without referring to the newest phrase in the GAA lexicon, the Super 8s. While I am in the Congress majority in welcoming this development, it appears that puts me in the Twitter minority. So be it. Life will go on, we’ll get earlier All-Ireland finals and, who knows, this round robin might actually work. Bring it into hurling as well, I say.

The top flight in the football league sees (count them) eight teams playing against each other over 11 weeks and it seems to work. Dublin and Kerry is still a fortnight away in Tralee under lights but that game is already sold out. Isn’t that super?

This weekend the Dubs, who have been showing recent signs of torpor, welcome Mayo, who would like nothing more than to relieve the All-Ireland champions of this unbeaten-in-two-years tag. They’d be doing Jim Gavin a favour but in all probability the Hill won’t allow that to happen. I do expect the Kingdom to answer that call on 18 March, however.

They will warm up for that by beating Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park on Sunday, if the pitch stands up to what the weather gods are bringing. The Rossies prop up the table, a far cry from a year ago, but that may lessen expectations come championship time and it would be a more realistic measure of where they are. Which appears to be in trouble.

Omagh hosts high-flying Monaghan and Tyrone, the battle of the undefeated. Rain put paid to Tyrone’s game last weekend; Monaghan were impressive in Killarney. This might be a little tougher for them as Kerry tend to play football at this time of the year while Tyrone tend to play to win. Padraig Hayes is down to referee – I hope he brings the cards.

Cavan and Donegal in Breffni Park is an important one for both sides as the loser will be looking over their shoulder. Someone has to join Roscommon in the trapdoor and that may yet come down to head-to-head. On the strength of Donegal’s battling draw with Dublin, they get the hesitant vote.

Division 2 of the hurling doesn’t offer any heavyweight clashes but the football equivalent has some for your viewing pleasure. Meath against high flyers Galway in Navan is a must-win for the Royals, while the Tribe are the only unbeaten side in the division.

Clare and Cork in Ennis is a game that will see the winners as legitimate promotion candidates, the losers thinking of securing safety. The banner are minus All-Ireland hurling club-tied Gary Brennan and that could swing it the Rebels way.

The Lilywhites should beat Fermanagh in Newbridge and relight their promotional drive, while rejuvenated Derry can stop Down’s winning streak of one, at one in Owenbeg.

There are two other divisions at work and I’ll know more about Division 3 after Sunday, when I view the footballers of Tipperary and Longford up close. Going on last year’s events, one of them is a Super 8 county. Think I might tweet that. CL