Tadhg Kennelly is poised to join up with the Irish International Rules panel after the Sydney Swans' quest to retain the Australian Rules title concludes.
The Swans face Freemantle in the AFL preliminary final tomorrow night and, should they progress, they will play either Adelaide or the West Coast Eagles in the Grand Final on September 30th.
The Kerry native recently signed a three-year contract extension, but has repeatedly stated his desire to return home after the 2009 season, which would end a 10-year career in Australia.
After signing rookie papers as a 17-year-old, Kennelly was promoted to the Swans senior roster in 2001 and became the first Irishman to win a grand final last season.
But the 25-year-old has always hoped to follow in the footsteps of his late father (Tim) and brother (Noel) by winning an All-Ireland title with Kerry. As yet, he has only represented Kerry at minor level, but has been involved in three International Rules Series.
Kennelly's availability, barring injury, is a huge boost to Seán Boylan's plans, especially considering Australia are expected to travel with leading AFL players Barry Hall Junior, Michael Voss and James Hird.
Hall, a Swans team-mate of Kennelly, is favourite to be named Australian captain for the two-test series at Pearse Stadium, Galway on October 28th and Croke Park on November 5th.
There is no update on the selection of other Irish exports - Setanta Ó hAilpín, Aisake Ó hAilpín (both Carlton) and Laois' Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions) - who are currently trying to make it in the AFL.
Dublin goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton is unavailable due to work commitments, so Meath's Brendan Murphy is expected to fill the void left by the 2004 player-of-the-series.
Boylan will announce a reduced panel in a few weeks despite the predicted disruption to this Saturday's session at Westmanstown Sports Complex, Dublin, because of club championships, injuries, All-Ireland final hangovers and the upcoming interprovincial competition (which begins with Leinster playing Ulster on Saturday, October 7th in Cavan).
Boylan has stayed clear of Kerry or Mayo players this week to allow them recover from the celebrations/trauma of last Sunday.
Kerry full forward Kieran Donaghy is the primary target, but he is carrying a back strain, while Mayo playmaker Ciarán McDonald would be a welcome addition having already proven his worth in the hybrid game.
"It is still difficult to get everyone together, but we'll know more after this weekend," said Boylan. "I haven't approached the Kerry or Mayo players as they deserve at least a few days to recover, but there are other problems with so many club championships in full flow.
"Conal Keaney is off playing football and hurling (with Ballyboden), Nicholas Murphy is the same and Derek Kavanagh is injured."
Big, yet mobile, men like Donaghy, Keaney and Cork duo Murphy and Kavanagh appear to be the type of player Boylan intends to build a team around.
Former manager Pete McGrath opted for a smaller, quicker player in an attempt to mirror Gaelic football tactics.
This was effective against a weakened and inexperienced Australian side in 2004 only to be cringingly exposed by the power play adopted under new Aussie head coach Kevin Sheedy in 2005.
To combat the alien nature of the tackle, Boylan - and his management team of Eoin Liston (Kerry), Pádraic Joyce (Galway), Anthony Tohill (Derry) and Hugh Kenny (Wicklow) - drafted in Irish colleges rugby coach Shay McGuinness for specialist training.
Another area of concern is the state of the Croke Park pitch, which has come in for widespread criticism this year due to players' inability to maintain their footing.
However, stadium director Peter McKenna confirmed on Tuesday that a new undersoil -heating system would be installed before the second test, which is supposed to reduce the amount of slipping.
