Ireland manager John O'Keeffe's panel selection for the upcoming International Rules series is light on experience, with 11 newcomers and the withdrawal - and probable retirement - of a number of familiar faces.

It's too early to say whether Ciarán Whelan will play on the international stage again, but former luminaries like Declan O'Keeffe, Peter Canavan and Anthony Tohill are likely to have played for Ireland for the last time.

O'Keeffe did express concern about the injuries, which will keep out two of Ireland's consistently better defenders, Darren Fay and Seán Martin Lockhart.

"Darren will be the most upset of all," said O'Keeffe at yesterday's media conference in Croke Park. "He injured his ankle in a clash with Padhraic Joyce at training a few weeks ago. I think he thought it would clear up but it hasn't. He's been the most underestimated of all Irish players over the years. The international game plays right into his barrow. I'd say he enjoys it even more than Gaelic football.

"Seán Martin Lockhart has been a great corner back for us and is a great loss."

Ireland will come together on Thursday of this and next week at the Citywest Hotel - "a great improvement on two years ago, thanks to the GAA", according to O'Keeffe, who was confident about the series ahead.

"If we produce our Gaelic football skills we'll do well. They depend a lot on the fisted pass; they don't really kick - which is our strength. Our game will be based on speed, skill and athletic ability.

"Even though the Australians have been realising that smaller, more skilful players are more appropriate for this game, we can't compete with them physically.

"Two years ago in the first Test we had four or five wides from open goal chances. I feel we will create goal openings again, but we need to take them because they are likely to win more possession than we will. I think we will need four or five goals per game."

The 11 players included for the first time are: Peter Burke, Anthony Lynch, Paddy Christie, Colin Holmes, Tomás Ó Sé, Declan Meehan, Evan Kelly, Joe Bergin, Paul Barden, Derek Savage and Ray Cosgrove.

Seamus Moynihan is the only player to have played in every series since they were revived in 1998. The Ireland captain did miss the first Test in 2000, but that was because he had played in the All-Ireland final replay 24 hours earlier and he was duly back a week later for the second Test.

Kieran McGeeney is the other survivor from the 1998 series, but he didn't travel to Australia in 1999.

Advance sales for the first Test are running at around 27,000. According to the GAA's marketing manager, Dermot Power, this figure is about 25 per cent greater than at the same stage two years ago. He stressed the advisability of pre-booking.

"Money will not be taken at the turnstiles. We will be selling tickets on the street on the day, but to save time and inconvenience we are advising people to purchase tickets in advance."

Tickets for the series games on October 13th and 20th are available from the official GAA website (www.gaa.ie) and Ticketmaster outlets. There will also be a sale of tickets from Croke Park on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with times to be announced later in the week.

The Australians arrive this evening and will hold a press conference tomorrow, followed by a practice match against the Dublin All Stars. This will take place at Parnell Park in 4.0 p.m. and is a fundraiser for Cumann na mBunscoil.

The Dublin team will be led by county captain Coman Goggins, who travelled to Australia last year with Ireland but his participation was disrupted by injury. Other familiar faces on the team will be county colleagues Darren Homan and John McNally.

Kevin Devine, who had a trial in Australian Rules, will also play, as will former Dublin All Star and All-Ireland winner Vinny Murphy. Another familiar name is Fermanagh's Rory Gallagher, playing club football with St Brigid's, whose 3-9 in the championship match against Monaghan equalled a 40-year record.

Meanwhile, the news on Tadhg Kennelly is more hopeful as it has been confirmed that he has not broken anything after falling awkwardly in Saturday night's Kerry club game with his club Listowel Emmetts.

He was removed to hospital afterwards, and he will have further tests this week as it is believed that he has torn ligaments in his ankle but not badly.

The Ireland backroom team is: manager: John O'Keeffe (Kerry); selectors: Martin Carney (Mayo), Matt Connor (Offaly), Peter McGinnity (Fermanagh); doctor: Con Murphy (Cork); runner: Ger Power (Kerry).