ECHOES of a gripping battle of two years ago are clearly discernible in the foursomes pairings which will open the 29th Curtis Cup matches on the Killeen Course at Killarney this morning.

All the key ingredients, including delightful weather, are in, place for a memorable staging in which Britain and Ireland will be, seeking the unprecedented distinction of retaining the trophy, for a projected six years.

Ita Butler, skipper of the home, team, has given a crucial role to, the Scots pairing of Janice Moodie and Mhairi McKay in the anchor position against Cristie, Kerr and Carol Semple Thompson, the youngest and oldest members of the US team. It will be recalled that in the final match at Chattanooga two years ago, Moodie got a priceless singles victory, securing an overall tie and retention of the trophy.

Killarney has been clothed in "her fabled finery as the teams prepared for battle. And the fine weather is predicted to continue over the weekend, adding a rather special dimension to this, the first time for the biennial event to be staged in the Republic.

Competitors from both sides expressed complete satisfaction with the condition of the course on which the receptive greens are gradually being brought up to a speed of about nine on the Stimpmeter. This would be slightly below professional tournament standards but ideal for play at amateur level.

Meanwhile, the home side were given a ringing endorsement yesterday by local professional Tony Coveney, a regular competitor these days on the European Seniors Tour. "Having watched both teams in practice, the British and Irish side look to be technically better, particularly Janice Moodie, who is the best player on view," he said.

The professional went on: "I was particularly impressed with the way the home players were holding the ball down into the wind. They also look to be stronger physically, but the Americans are not lacking in confidence. I think we can also expect them to be very sharp around the greens."

In his overall assessment of the match, Coveney found a notable ally in Mickey Walker, coach to the home side. "The days when British or European teams were in awe of the Americans is past," she said. "I'm sure it started with our players going to college in America and competing against Americans week in week out.

"When you realise you have the measure of your opponent, you're not in awe of them at team level, whether it be the Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, Walker Cup or Curtis Cup."

The point was well made, given that three of those trophies currently reside on this side of the Atlantic. And Walker's reference to US college experience is personified by Moodie (San Jose) and McKay (Stanford), both of whom are current NCAA all Americans.

American selectors, at men's land women's levels, have always taken the view that if a player is good enough, he or she is young enough. So it is that Ms Thompson, at 47, is making a record ninth appearance for the US, equalling the achievement of Ireland's Mary McKenna for either side.

In her view, Britain and Ireland are now far better organised that they were in her early appearances in the side when an American victory was a foregone conclusion. "Two years ago was the first time that we practised together for the Curtis Cup," she said. "Your players, on the other hand, have obviously benefitted from the introduction of a squad system involving practice for several months before the match."

An interesting aspect of the contest is that both teams will have male caddies drawn from youth ranks throughout the country. Among them is Peter Kane, son of former international, Raymond Kane, who will be caddying for Kerr. "I've been showing her some chip and run shots, like we play in links golf over here," said the 19 year old. A total of 18 youths are involved two of them as reserves.

There is also a fascinating Irish connection with Calcot Park's Lisa Educate, a member of the 1994 team. Her mother, a Daly from Roscommon, is a distant relative of Cardinal Daly. Arising out of this disclosure, a spokesman for the Cardinal conveyed his best wishes to Ms Educate and the British and Ireland team.

Though there are five debutantes in the US line up, all are, accomplished players in whom competitive instincts have been nurtured from an early age. In this context, particular attention will focus on Kelli Kuehne, a university of Texas freshman who is the reigning US Women's Amateur champion. Her brother, Trip, was in the US team beaten by Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup last September.

The manner in which US skipper Martha Lang has used her two 18 year olds, Kerr and Kuehne, in this morning's foursomes, reflects the contrasting nature of her side. For instance, while Thompson partners Kerr, Kuehne is paired at number one with the experienced Ellen Port, who achieved a crushing 7 and 5 singles win over McKay at Chatitanooga.

When considering the confidence of the US payers, as expressed by Coveney, some observers spoke of the imposing presence of Thompson, the most experienced player on either side. Intriguingly, the same could apply to Kuehne, who projects a similarly commanding presence, reflecting the competitive maturity which has gained her a national title.

During a splendid opening ceremony last evening, officials used words such as sportsmanship and gracious spirit with respect to the anticipated nature of the matches. But I suspect the President, Mrs Robinson, who officially declared the event open, got nearer the truth when she suggested the matches would be "fiercely competitive".

Remove the gap in standards and this becomes an inevitable consequence.

. Jose Maria Olazabal has withdrawn from next week's French Open and it now seems unlikely that he will play in next month's British Open. Olazabal has not played tournament golf since the Lancome Trophy in Paris last September because of rheumatoid arthritis in both feet. He has repeatedly missed fresh, self imposed deadlines since then. Yesterday, though, his manager, Sergio Gomez, said that because Olazabal could not play in France he would not be able to get in enough tournament play before the Open to do himself justice.