International Rules Second TestThe range of reasonable possibilities going into tomorrow's Fosters International Rules second Test doesn't really stretch as far as Ireland winning the series. Only once since the modern series resumed in 1998 has a team overcome defeat in the first Test to win on aggregate.

That happened five years ago when Ireland, well on top in the first match, contrived to lose it to late scores before going on to take the series. Tomorrow will be different in that it will take an unprecedented sea change for Ireland to get back on terms.

It used to be assumed that the travelling team was bound to improve after an intensive week together but by this stage with both panels working equally intensively there's not much difference between the work being put in by the home and away teams.

Talking to Irish players since last week's defeat in Perth, you'd be struck by how frustrated they feel at the fact they under-performed. "We beat ourselves", was one verdict. But there's equally no sense they are fully confident of a turnaround.

But despite such a gloomy landscape there are at least some grounds for expecting an improved performance.

If the malign scenario suggests a big win for the home side, there is also the possibility that Ireland can deliver a narrow win or a competitive performance.

For a start, the Australian display last week was far from unbeatable and the total of 56 points wouldn't have been enough to win 14 of the previous 22 Tests.

That is a fair indicator of Ireland's solidity at the back. Even the now fabled Barry Hall ("Big Bad Barry Hall" to give him his full local title) was restricted to 13 points, not too damaging considering his ability to win possession and facility with the round ball.

Armagh's Steven McDonnell scored more but with fewer fanfares. Otherwise the Australian individual totals were modest.

The Irish defence's ability to win ball, led by captain Graham Canty and the experienced Seán Martin Lockhart, was good even if improved distribution will be necessary if a lot of hard work isn't to go to waste. The shortcomings in marksmanship have been frequently raised.

"We weren't very good at our own specialist skills," said manager John O'Keeffe. "That's something we intend to improve."

And there is great scope for improvement.

O'Keeffe was referring both to the kicking for scores and the distribution of the ball in general.

"The Aussies have done their homework on putting pressure on our kick-outs. You can analyse it to death and put even more pressure on the goalkeeper but we'll be hoping to deal with this a bit better."

Ireland also need to attack more smartly. Too often players offloaded ball to team-mates who were marked, effectively giving away possession. There isn't the same threat from the corners in International Rules that exists at home. Attackers are too easily cut off so the best Irish attacks come through the middle, just as the most dangerous Australian moves are down the wing with a view to firing over high ball for the big forwards to mark.

Aside from better shooting and sharper tactical calls, Ireland will expect to improve the team's general cohesion. Canty pointed out at yesterday's media conference that even the experience of last week would help.

"The team as a whole learned an awful lot. Many of our players had very little experience of the game, its tempo and speed."

On the line procedural matters such as the inter-change also have room for improvement. This essential part of the game was virtually unrehearsed for the first Test and such basic slip-ups as making changes while the Australians are in possession need to be addressed.

O'Keeffe's opposite number, Garry Lyon, makes the point that, when organising the inter-change, he pairs players so that they always know who's coming and going.

There is a chance that complacency may affect the home side's challenge. It doesn't take much to make Australians supremely confident and there are signs that despite their attempts to play down the prospect of becoming the first Aussie team to win a home series, they know the title is almost in the bag.

"We are pretty confident we can improve on last week," said captain Shane Crawford yesterday, "that we can use the ball a little better and not give the Irish such a good start."

Crawford himself has plenty of scope for improvement after Ciarán McManus's trojan display - acknowledged by Lyon - in limiting the normally influential Aussie captain to a subdued contribution.

Canty added that Ireland will be lifted by the presence of bigger support, as half the country migrates to Melbourne for the big weekend. There was surprise in Australia at the vociferous partisanship of the crowd in Perth and the wild scenes of celebration that followed the match.

Tomorrow Ireland hope to have about 15,000 supporters in the MCG.

No one can dispute the commitment of the Irish players. They have behaved with exemplary responsibility and gone about their business in a dedicated fashion. The trouble is that Australia also have room for improvement and considerable momentum.

You hope for the best but fear the worst.

Australia v Ireland Melbourne, Friday, 8.45 a.m.