Upbeat Irish captain Eavan Higgins is confident her side can give the other countries a "run for their money" in the Ladies' Amateur Home International Golf Championship which begins over the Royal St David's links at Harlech today.

Higgins is convinced the growing stature of Alison Coffey, the Irish champion, and Curtis Cup player Suzanne O'Brien provides inspiration for the team - and another reason for optimism is the appointment of a new coach, Jane Leavy, who has accompanied the side to Wales.

"Never can I recall having two players at the top of the order of the calibre of Alison and Suzanne. They help the team tremendously in every way to raise the standard of the entire line-up," said Higgins who also said Leavy was making her mark and relating very well to the team.

Both Warrenpoint's Coffey and O'Brien from Milltown were in the Britain and Ireland side which took the bronze medal in the recent World Team Championships in Berlin and the following week, Coffey was third in the British Ladies' Open Strokeplay Championship at Royal County Down.

Higgins concedes that Ireland face a tough task today when they play defending champions Wales who will be buoyed up by playing on home territory.

"The first match is always difficult because it tends to set the tempo for the tournament and when it is against the holders, it's particularly hard - a good start is vital."

There is only one new cap in the line-up - Sinead Keane who comes from the Curragh, the same club as Lilian Behan, who won the l985 British Ladies Championship. But Keane watches from the sidelines as Ireland start out against Wales this morning as does Emma Dickson from Royal County Down.

Higgins has put together three very strong pairings with the experienced Yvonne Cassidy playing in an international series for the first time since 1995, partnering Elaine Dowdall in the top match against the talented teenager, Becky Brewerton, and Eleanor Pilgrim.

Ireland have won the crown outright only twice - in 1980 at Cruden Bay and six years later at Whittington Barracks - but Higgins hopes they can end their barren run in this remote part of Wales on Friday. England, who start as favourites, with British strokeplay and matchplay champion Rebecca Hudson and English and European title-holder Emma Duggleby in their team. They open today against Scotland.