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Will Kilkenny retain the Guinness All-Ireland hurling crown or will Limerick end a 34-year wait?
The answer to that question will be provided at Croke Park tomorrow (3.30) when the counties clash in the All-Ireland final and, barring a draw, bring down the curtain on what has been a momentous 2007 campaign.
It will be the first time since 1974 that these sides have met in the final while their last championship meeting was two years ago when Kilkenny won an All-Ireland quarter-final by five points.
Kilkenny are chasing their 30th title which would bring them alongside Cork at the top of the honours table.
Limerick are hoping to win their eighth title, thereby consolidating their fourth place position on the honours list behind Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary.
The fact that Kilkenny won the last meeting between the sides in March in a National League contest (2-17 to 0-12) will have little relevance tomorrow although Brian Cody's side undoubtedly go into the game in pole position because of their recent track record and plethora of stars in their line-up.
They beat Offaly and Wexford to win the Leinster crown and were then fully tested by a Galway side before winning their All Ireland quarter-final by 3-22 to 1-18.
In the All Ireland semi-final they overcame neighbours and great rivals Wexford by 0-23 to 1-10.
Henry Shefflin has proved Kilkenny's master marksman to date with 0-43, most of these scores coming from frees but Eddie Brennan, Martin Comerford, Eoin Larkin and Willie O'Dwyer have also made generous contributions in the scoring stakes.
If Kilkenny's arrival in the final was somewhat predictable, the same could certainly not be said of Limerick's stunning championship voyage.
Manager Richie Bennis has brought his side through a frenetic summer campaign that has seen them turn the formbook upside down.
They played Tipperary three times before triumphing in an epic Munster semi-final - a contest that signalled their arrival in the All Ireland title frame.
It was only after extra-time in their third meeting that Limerick shaded the verdict on a 0-22 to 2-13 scoreline.
They then bowed the knee to Waterford in the Munster final (3-17 to 1-14) before re-igniting their challenge against Clare whom they overcame by 1-23 to 1-16 in the All Ireland quarter-finals.
And Limerick then set the championship on fire with that dramatic 5-11 to 2-15 win over Waterford in the All Ireland semi-final - revenge or what!
Andrew O'Shaughnessey has been their scorer-in-chief to date with 2-39 while Michael Fitzgerald has bagged 1-14.
Mark Foley, Stephen Lucey, Barry Foley and Brian Begley are other key players in a side fired by ambition and desperately keen to again defy the odds.
They have the skill, power and commitment but Kilkenny's rounded artistry, their imposing track record and their fierce resolve may see them retain a tight grip on the Liam McCarthy Cup for another year - at least.
