Under-19 World Championship Ireland v England Exiles Ground, Dubai, 5.0Ireland begin what will be a demanding IRB Under-19 World Championship campaign with an opening pool match against England tonight at the Exiles Ground in Dubai, the venue of the prestigious international sevens competition in the Gulf state.

In contrast to England, who have been acclimatising in Dubai for over one week, Ireland have had only a couple of days in which to come to terms with the searing heat. Even at five o'clock in the morning the thermometer is reading in excess of 27 degrees but at least all the matches are being played at night when temperatures will be lower.

The problem of hydration, however, has been addressed seriously as Ireland manager Keith Patton confirmed. He said : "There will be enforced water breaks. I understand that there are guys on the touchline with with hydrometers."

Ireland go into this match determined to reverse the result when the two sides met last month at The Twickenham Stoop.

Patton believes that his side has a genuine opportunity to put a dent in England's global ambitions. "It's good to have a first-up match against a higher seeded team. That's when England could be vulnerable. But we recognise that they are a talented side with some exceptional players, and capable of ripping you apart," said the Ireland manager, who identified Leicester centre Oliver Dodge and Wasps outside half Daniel Cipriani as potential danger men.

Reflecting on the last encounter with England, Patton admitted that the final scoreline of 32-9 was perhaps down to the need for experimenting in the second half. He said : "We played very well up until half-time. But we had to try things in the second half and in particular needed to look at different frontrow players. We've made four changes to the starting side and should be stronger".

"These guys have the chance to measure themselves against the best in the world at this age level. It's a huge opportunity for them. And with quality training day in day out it's about maximising their potential" suggested Patton.

Casting his eye over the under-19s will be high performance coach Steve Anderson, who is in Dubai to monitor his charges' output. Anderson knows that Ireland must aim for a win in their opening match or at worst collect a losing bonus point. Bonus points will be crucial at the end of the three pool matches in determining the final ranking at the end of the fifth and final round.

After round three, the 12 teams are ranked one to 12 on championship points and in the fourth round the ties will be: 1 v 4, 2 v 3, 5 v 8, 6 v 7, 9 v 12, 10 v 11. Then in the final round the finishing positions one to 12 are determined from winners v winners and losers v losers.

Defending champions South Africa will be favourites but stiff challenges will come from New Zealand, Australia, France, Wales, Argentina, and England. Ireland, seeded ninth, will aim to finish in the middle group of countries occupying positions 5 to 8.

IRELAND U19: S Carey (Garbally College); S Monahan (Trinity College), K Earls (St Muchins), I Keatley (UCD), M Barker (Queens Univ); B Collins (Castlenock), P O'Donohoe (Belvedere College); C Healy (Belvedere College), G Slattery (St Muchins), J Gethings (Gonzaga), T Anderson (Queens Univ), C McInerney (UCD), T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), D Pollock (Queens Univ), K Sheahan (UCD). Replacements: R Murphy (Castlenock), R Sweeney (UCD), P Gilchrist (UCD), A Browne (Galwegians), J Graham (Ballynahinch), T Walsh (Castlenock), D Drake (Instonians), N O'Connor (Limavady GS), A Wynne (Blackrock College), I Dineen (CBC Cork), I Whitten (Queens Univ).