IRELAND right wing Simon Geogheghan, under treatment for the last three weeks for a hamstring injury, was able to take a full part in the training session at Anglesea Road yesterday and will definitely play against Wales at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.

Geoghegan missed the match against France a fortnight ago because of the injury and his training last weekend was severely restricted as a precautionary measure.

Loose head prop Nick Popplewell had to have attention yesterday for a slight knock on his right ankle. He had ice treatment and did not complete the session, but again that was purely precautionary and there is no doubt about his fitness.

"We were always confident that Simon would be fit," said Ireland manager Pat Whelan, "and he had no problem completing the session. We are not worried about Nick Popplewell's fitness either. He stopped training so as to avoid any possible risk of aggravating the ankle." Popplewell said: "I am not in any way worried. It was just a slight little temporary problem. I am quite certain I will be able to play."

"Despite the defeat in Paris, the mood in the team is good," said Whelan. "The players are a resilient bunch. We are playing at home and they know that if they give the supporters something to cheer about, there is no place better in the world than Lansdowne Road.

"I admit our record at home in recent years has not been good, but maybe the performances were such that they did not give the supporters the opportunity to give their traditional support. We hope we can give a performance that will change that."

Ireland coach Murray Kidd said: "The Welsh are a well organised team. Their line out is as good as any in the game. They are winning a lot of possession. They will make us tackle in midfield as they use the ball well and use their backs - and forwards in the midfield but can still create space. They look like a team on the up. They look sharper now than they have done in the last few years.

"I not worried about us lasting the 80 minutes. I am quite sure that will not be a problem. Who scored the last try in Paris? I have no worries about that aspect. While we have made six changes, it should be remembered some of those were enforced.

New Ireland captain Niall Hogan said: "We are all looking forward to the match and anxious to put the game in Paris behind us. There is no better way of blocking that out of people's memories than by getting a win against Wales in Lansdowne Road. Of course we respect the Welsh as we respect every opposition. But we have done well against them in recent times. We beat them in Cardiff and in the World Cup last season. A lot of our players have been on winning teams against Wales. Going to Paris it was hard to escape the thought that not one of us had been on a winning team against France."

The Welsh party arrived in Dublin late yesterday afternoon having trained in Cardiff before departure. Like Ireland, they have no injury worries and back row Emry Lewis, who was troubled by a dead leg last weekend, has made a complete recovery.

Again, like Ireland, they go into the match tomorrow having lost both championship matches, but unlike Ireland they go with a team unchanged throughout the championship. Their coach Kevin Bowring said: "We are in a similar situation to Ireland in some respects: we have both lost our two matches and are both under new management.

"But we have been encouraged by the way the steam has played, but nonetheless very disappointed to have lost both matches. We are building a new team and despite the losses we are making progress in the type of game we want to play. What we are really trying to do is to get the team playing in the traditional Welsh manner, which is the fast, fluid and open game, I think we play best. But despite what happened Ireland in Paris, we are not underestimating the challenge we will face.

"The Irish side has been changed considerably but some of those changes have been forced on the selectors. I am sure they will play with passion and put us under pressure, but we must learn to deal with the pressure. There are always high expectations in Wales, but we are getting good support and understanding of what we are trying to do."

Ireland will have a short training session in College Park around 11.30 this morning and Wales will train at Sydney Parade at 10.30.