Ireland enter unmapped ground in tomorrow's second Test of this year's CocaCola International Rules series. Last Sunday was the most comprehensive defeat the Irish have suffered since the resumption of the series two years ago. It also represented a step backwards in that failings apparently remedied re-emerged.

Much has been made of Australian coach Dermott Brereton's belief that Irish players would struggle in the final quarter. This can be overplayed as a factor in the result. In the past two years, the Australians have tended to finish stronger in the fourth quarter, but not always and it hasn't before impacted as heavily on the result.

Of more significance was Brereton's use of inter-change players. The constant shuffling left him with a fresher selection as the match came to its conclusion. This is an area in which the Irish management has little experience and one in which expertise is hard earned.

It's surely not co-incidental that this series and last year's have featured experienced international managers using the inter-change more adeptly. Colm O'Rourke's bench played its hand particularly well in last year's second Test in Adelaide with the result that Ireland actually came from behind in the final 20 minutes to ensure the series win.

Things have changed since then. Ireland have new management and, as well as having to feel his way in a first series, Brian McEniff has been cursed with injuries and unavailability. Many of the home team's best players weren't on hand for the first Test and, although things have improved slightly-ahead of tomorrow, footballers like Jarlath Fallon, Michael Donnellan and John McDermott have been impossible to replace.

Conversely, Brereton has learned the lessons of last year. This has been reflected in the more intelligent choice of players for the tour. One of last year's big problems for him came in the second Test when he had no adequate defensive back-up and the six backs had to play virtually the whole match.

Speedy ball players have been recruited and the more obviously unsuited of the All-Australian winners - the starting panel for the tour party - were bluntly informed that, whereas they were welcome to travel, they were nearly certain not to play.

This added ruthlessness has even generated a mild revolt, with Australian players asking that Steven King, the statuesque Geelong ruckman, be given a run tomorrow in recognition of his efforts to master the round ball in training. The relatively cool response of chairman of selectors Gerard Healy speaks loudly about the sense of mission the Australian management has brought to this year's task.

So Ireland have less experienced management, a weaker playing panel and more focused opponents. In the circumstances, it might be said that they have done well to be still in with a chance. Yet the home team had a genuine chance last week. Australia may have been confident of finishing the stronger, but Ireland, with more thorough preparation and more experienced players, had every expectation of making the better start.

They duly did, but the lack of competitive edge throughout the first half seemed to blunt Ireland's killer instinct. One of the problems with the emerging hybrid game is that a general unease settles when it looks as if one side is going to dismantle the other and maybe render the whole project redundant.

At this stage we can assume that this will not happen, but good starts by Ireland frequently end up deflating slowly through a loss of urgency rather than purely because the Aussies turn the screw.

Last week was a case in point. Good chances were created both for goals and overs, but many of these were squandered. If Ireland can do the same tomorrow they may be in with a chance given that the eight-point deficit will presumably add a sense of urgency to proceedings.

Ireland will also have improved at the back with the expected return of Seamus Moynihan and Sean de Paor already back in the fold after the All-Ireland replay. Hopes will be high that Padraig Joyce's imperious finishing powers can cut down on the attacking inaccuracy, but that's asking a lot from a player who hasn't played International Rules before and whose county commitments kept him off the Ireland training panel this summer.

The reality is that even an improved display by the home team may not be enough. Over the Tests played since resumption, the average margin of victory has been five points, so eight points is a daunting deficit. If Australia maintain their concentration levels, they should clock up a first series win since 1987.