Kilkenny made the most of a strong wind to earn a comprehensive victory in Portlaoise on Saturday.
The Laois under 20 hurlers will have to extract a result from their trip to Wexford this weekend if they're to progress straight to a provincial championship quarter final.
Kilkenny were ultimately clear winners over the O'Moore County in stormy conditions Portlaoise on Saturday.
Laois got off to the perfect start, leading by 1-5 to 0-0 after just ten minutes.
The goal came courtesy of Cormac Byrne of Abbeyleix.
That lead was reduced to just one point by half time before Kilkenny took over when playing with a strong wind in the second half.
The final score in O'Moore Park was 6-14 to 1-13.
Laois' top scorer was Camross' Ben Deegan who pointed eight frees in the game.
The winner of Saturday's meeting between Laois and Wexford will determine who goes in to a quarter-final and to a pre-liminary quarter-final.
Laois SFC: Killeshin Deliver Knockout Blow To Portlaoise
Westmeath SFC: Moate All Whites Turn Attention To County "Standard Bearers"
Town Continue Rich Vein Of Form With Creditable Students Draw
Offaly SFC: Shamrocks And Tullamore Secure Semi-Final Spots
John Heslin Aiming To Feature For Westmeath Next Season
Westmeath SFC: St Loman's Mullingar And Moate All Whites Progress
Athlone Town Move Closer To Women's Premier Division Title
Alex Dunne Keeps F2 Title Hopes Alive With Spanish GP Podium
I've Great People Around Me - Shane Lowry
Trump To Lift US Tariff On Irish Whiskey After Talks With Shane Lowry
Lowry Breaks Title Drought With Magnificent Irish Open Victory
Shane Lowry Leading The Way At The Irish Open
Alex Dunne Secures Front Row Start For F2 Feature Race In Madrid
Former Golf Coach Stunned With Stuart Grehan Not Competing At Irish Open
Treaty United The Next Test For Athlone Town
Mark McHugh To Remain In Charge Of Westmeath Footballers
Cannonball 2026 Heading For Offaly Today
Westmeath SFC: St Loman's Mullingar Aiming To Push Forward
Laois SFC: Places In The Semi-Finals Up For Grabs