Whatever about his size or physical strength, Colm Cooper will make every effort to get on the Irish team for the International Rules Tests with Australia writes Ian O'Riordan in London.

The 21-year-old Kerry forward will today take part in the final Irish team trial, and although it will be his first experience with the game, he's determined to give it his all.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to going in there," said Cooper here yesterday, as he represented his coming club interests at the launch of the AIB championship. "I haven't tasted it at any level, and I don't even know what the rules are.

"It's going to be an experience anyway, and that's the only way I'm looking at it for the moment. But I know from watching the Australian boys on TV that they are serious athletes."

Although the game is clearly geared towards the more physical, burly footballer, Cooper is hopeful his skills might get him through. Irish manager Pete McGrath will announce his 27-man squad next Monday, with the two Tests taking place over the next two Sundays.

"Obviously it's every player's dream to play for their country," added Cooper, "and I'm no different in that respect. So it would be great to get the chance. I know I probably don't have enough done to get into the team, but just to be a part of it would be great."

But he's proven he can mix the rough with the smooth, as exemplified by the physical nature of Kerry's drawn Munster final against Limerick last July.

"Ah yeah, there were a few things going on that day. Both verbal and physical. But we should have been prepared for it. I lost my cool for a while, but I did nothing drastic anyway. It was just a reaction to these things, because we're all human.

"And I'd say that was our hardest match all year. We were certainly put to the pin of our collar, and the referee was giving both teams a hard time. I know they had two or three frees in a row to win and I was thinking all along if we were going out of the championship. It was just great to get over it."

Cooper's other interest this weekend is Sunday's quarter-finals of the Kerry county championship, where his Dr Crokes club take on Laune Rangers in Killarney. And his association with the club runs deep. He was decked out as the team mascot when they won the All-Ireland in 1992, and in 2000, at just 17, he helped them win their last county title.

And there are many memories of that day in 1992. Two of his brothers were playing, Mark and Danny. "Danny got sent off that day but he won't mind me for saying that, because he's got an All-Ireland club medal in his pocket.

"Pat O'Shea is also back coaching me, his first time in the club at senior level. So I think we are putting in an even bigger effort this year, just to get back into the county final."

Despite his list of immediate appointments, Cooper is already thinking about Kerry's quest to retain the All-Ireland title next year. "Of course you wonder can you give the same commitment again. It's easy to say yes now. But you just won't know until the time comes if you'll have the same drive and hunger.

"We'd still like to get back and beat one of the northern teams in New York after what happened the last two years. We were kind of gearing ourselves for Tyrone and Armagh this year but it didn't happen. I suppose that will be an obvious motivation for next year. But it doesn't matter to me who we play in an All-Ireland final as long as we keep winning."