There was speculation yesterday that a third Test may be added to the schedules for this autumn's International Rules series in Australia.

At the launch of the Ireland training panel for the forthcoming series, manager Brian McEniff referred to the possibility in the context of suspended Tyrone forward Peter Canavan's availability.

"There's been some talk of a third game in Sydney but I'd feel very sad for Peter if he had to wait until then," (Canavan actually has a one-match suspension and will be available for the second test in Adelaide.)

GAA president Seβn McCague said in relation to the putative third Test: "It's not been finalised at this juncture." The matter was, however, on the agenda of the GAA Management Committee's last meeting.

Since the resumption of the international series three years ago, two Tests have been played annually. It was thought that this was on the basis that the Australians had a limited amount of time before pre-season training, but the impetus for the third Test has come from Australia.

The view Down Under is that a third Test would give the series a more decisive finale than the current system of aggregating the points over two Tests. Discussions are believed to have already taken place between the GAA and AFL.

With nothing officially announced on the subject, yesterday's press conference at Croke Park concentrated on introducing new Ireland captain Anthony Tohill and the announcement of McEniff's preliminary selection.

The keynote theme was the disappointment of losing last year's series in Dublin. Whereas everyone accepted that the preparation had been less than ideal with the All-Ireland football final going to a replay and several county championships going ahead on the weekends of the series, it was also felt the team hadn't done itself justice.

"It was a very chastening experience," said McEniff. "I learned a great deal from it although I was disappointed with the lack of hunger and appetite we showed."

He recounted how at the end-of-series banquet he had ended up at a table on his own before one of the team physios came over and sat beside him because "she felt sorry for me" and eventually "Micheβl ╙ Muircheartaigh and his daughters came over and joined us. That's the loneliness of defeat, so I've been waiting the last 10 months to put things right. I'm very sorry that Dermott Brereton (the then Australian coach who stepped down after two series in charge) is gone. After what he said at half-time of the second Test last year, he would have been a considerable motivation for us."

Brereton is believed to have said to McEniff as the teams left the field at the interval: "We're going to bury you." (It didn't seem to have much motivational effect at the time.)

The training panel shows some changes from last year's final selection. Already out for a variety of reasons are Gerard Cavlan (Tyrone), Mark Crossan (Donegal), Martin Daly (Clare), Eoin Gormley (Tyrone), Colin Moran (Dublin), Jonathon McGee (Dublin), Colm McManamon (Mayo), SΘamus Quinn (Leitrim), Larry Reilly (Cavan) and Brian Stynes (Dublin).

Jarlath Fallon (Galway) and Glenn Ryan (Kildare) are to be given a chance to recover from injury before the panel is finalised and cut to 26 around the beginning of September.

Along with Tohill, the two previous captains since the series resumed are also named. John McDermott led Ireland to two series wins in 1998 and '99. He was unavailable last year because of work commitments. His successor and clubmate Trevor Giles has been carrying an injury this season and may not be 100 per cent fit to travel in October. According to McEniff, manager and player will review the situation closer to the time but until then, Giles will remain part of the panel.

There have been a couple of get-togethers already but the first big session will be tomorrow week in Portmarnock, county Dublin. McEniff is hoping to secure the release of players involved in the All-Ireland football semi-finals. He has spoken to the managers of all eight teams remaining in the championship and "took on board a lot of information about their players".

Tadgh Kennelly, the former Kerry underage player, who recently made his first appearance for Australian Rules team, the Sydney Swans, has also been called up.

"I have spoken to Tadhg and asked him to be part of the squad. He's coming home in September and his experience of the game over there would be a great benefit to us," McEniff said.

In response to a question about the dangers of thrombosis on long-haul flights, McCague said: "We have yet to finalise the travel arrangements but I don't think that's likely to happen (there is first-class travel for players). We will however look after the welfare of our players."

The Ireland team is being sponsored by Coca-Cola who will revert to being series sponsors when the tests are in Ireland next year. This series is sponsored by Fosters.