Barring a late change of heart from Padraig Harrington, or unless there are a number of withdrawals, Ireland will have to qualify for November's World Cup in China.

Harrington, who won the event with Paul McGinley in 1996, has opted against playing this year, leaving Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley as the next highest-ranked Irish players.

The 18 exempt countries are based on the world rankings of their leading available player and with none of the Irish contingent inside the world's top 100, Ireland face the prospect of travelling to the qualifying tournament in Malaysia at the end of the month.

However, as qualifying takes place in the same week as the Seve Trophy match at the Heritage in Co Laois, it may be that Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie are called upon.