This year's Coca Cola International Rules series breaks new ground. For the first time, both Ireland and Australia face into the Tests seriously under-strength. Australia are likely to cope better with these losses, as they rely less on continuity than Ireland do. But, as ever, they haven't had as thorough a preparation as the home team.

Ireland's absentee list is long and debilitating. Seamus Moynihan, the Irish player of the series last year; Galway pair Michael Donnellan and Jarlath Fallon, two of the best forwards; and John McDermott, an inspirational presence as captain and centrefielder, are missing. And Declan O'Keeffe, who's reliable goalkeeping and precise kickouts were another important part of the gameplan in Melbourne and Adelaide, has also had to be replaced.

Australia's list of unavailable players is also striking, but of real relevance in only two respects. Stephen Silvagni was an accomplished goalkeeper, and whereas Andrew Kellaway looked competent in the practice match, he's not yet fully tested in action.

Nathan Buckley's reputation needs no elaboration after his starring role in the last two series, during which he proved himself the best user of a round ball produced by Australia since the resumption, and maybe even before.

The loss of this pair is a serious setback to Dermott Brereton's hopes of Australia's winning a series for the first time since 1987. Yet the coach looked confident and relaxed at Thursday's press conference. Setting aside the fact that he always does, the logic behind Brereton's confidence was troubling for the Irish.

This year's team has been selected with International Rules more specifically in mind than in the past two series. The All Australians are still involved, but, on the question of deploying the towering ruckmen, the burden of proof has been reversed and they must now demonstrate an aptitude before getting a Test place.

Brereton's revised emphasis on mobile ball-players will help redress the problems in last year's series, which saw the lack of mobility and choice at the back come seriously against his team in the last quarter of the second Test when Australia were otherwise in command. Inability to move the ball at pace from defence allowed Ireland take hold and finish out impressively.

They have also experimented with tactical innovation, such as bunching in the middle and drawing their markers in before scattering to the wings for the kick-out, in an attempt to win uncontested marks. This met with mixed success in the practice match, but it did show that the visitors are thinking creatively.

From the inaugural series Australia learned that Peter Canavan was Ireland's most dangerous forward. A year ago, Jason Akermanis was put in charge of marking the Tyroneman and did his job so comprehensively as to earn the Australian player of the series accolade.

Mind you, he did the job so ruthlessly as to raise eyebrows amongst some of the Irish management. Thursday in Parnell Park showed that the Brisbane defender has lost none of his aggression, and Ireland will want a close watch kept on any reunion between him and Canavan.

One significant difference between the teams which remains is that Ireland are annually in a better position to prepare than Australia. With players becoming free since last June, Ireland manager Brian McEniff has had weekly sessions for an increasing number of players, and although he was dealt a bad hand by the All-Ireland replay, his panel is strong and has prepared well.

Brereton, on the other hand, has had to make do with players familiarising themselves with the round ball, and then call them together for an intensive, four-day training camp before departure. Preparations were further hampered by the late withdrawal of established forwards Jeff Farmer and Matthew Lloyd.

In the Australian coach's favour, new captain James Hird, who missed the last year with injury, is available for the first time and comes to the international game with a range of plaudits ringing in his ears - all to the general effect that he will make up for the absence of Buckley such is the scope of his ball-playing skills.

But the visitors still have to address the lack of experience. Even allowing for the withdrawal of Galway and Kerry players, Ireland can still call on seven players who have played both of the series since the international project resumed, and nine with one year's involvement. Australia's equivalent numbers are two and seven.

Some Irish observers believe that tomorrow gives Australia their best chance of recording a decisive win, because some, if not all, of the Galway and Kerry players are expected back for the second Test. But the view here is that Ireland have done enough to have an edge.

Players like Anthony Tohill, Trevor Giles and Ciaran McManus have a great appetite for the game and have played it well. The visitors need to acclimatise a bit more and should be at their most formidable tomorrow week for the second and final Test. Although Ireland are fancied to win, the margin should be small enough to set the scene for a major confrontation next week.