"It's the one that everyone wants to be in, a Leinster final at Croke Park in the middle of July," Clancy told breakingnews.ie.

Timahoe players do not get much of a chance of lifting silverware but this Sunday they have a double opportunity with Clancy's minor counterpart Sean Ramsbottom also from the same club.

Expectations are high in the Laois camp and although rumours of a hamstring injury to Chris Conway, which he sustained during a weekend training session at Nowlan Park, are true, it is anticipated that the influential forward will be available for selection for the Leinster decider.

Clancy believes that going into this game as underdogs is the right way for Laois to be as they seek their second Leinster title win in five seasons.

"Going into the game as underdogs certainly relieves the pressure a bit from us. We know what to expect going into the final - Dublin will be no pushover but we won't be going into this game not feeling that we can take home the cup."

This is the flame-haired midfielder's seventh championship campaign and he feels that the approach adopted by manager Liam Kearns this year is a very positive one.

"I came in at the end of '99. I suppose every manager is different. This year we are on a weights programme and Kearns brought in a lot of different training methods but a fresh approach is as good as the rest and it's what is needed if you are to continue to challenge for honours," he said.

Clancy knows that there is a huge groundswell of support within the county and an expectation amongst Laois supporters to deliver silverware.

He also reckons that with a new management team in place this year, it would be an ideal time to regain the Delaney Cup.

"Especially for the new management coming in, it would be a big boost for the county."

A lot of talk in the build-up to this game has been about last year's meeting between the sides which Dublin won comfortably. That Leinster semi-final saw Laois guilty of missing a number of chances but Clancy feels that this weekend Laois will certainly not leave their shooting boots behind them in the dressing room.

"Last year we had 18 wides against Dublin and a lot of them were bad misses and a lot of bad choice-taking as well. Lads maybe going for their own score but you would be hoping that come Sunday our shooting will have improved and that we will have enough scores on the board to overcome the Dubs."