IRELAND manager Peter Lowther is confident of a good start and an equally good finish, but warns of a possible bumpy mid-series match, against Sweden, in this weekend's European women's team tennis championship in Belfast.

The team manager's prediction comes amid a spate of minor injuries in the Irish camp. "All the girls are carrying niggling injuries, so we will have to use all our resources over the weekend. Gina (Niland) is planning to have surgery on an on-going foot problem in the near future. Lesley (O'Halloran) tore a calf muscle and is still recovering. Zara (Wolseley) has an arm injury and, of course, Karen (Nugent) has been out ill for a year.

Promotion to Division One is the coveted prize and Lowther gives his team a good chance on the very fast surface of the new Belfast Tennis Centre, the first indoor facility of its kind in that city.

The power-billing O'Halloran is the most obvious Irish player likely to reap the benefits from the pace friendly surface. She is almost certain to be named as number two singles player to Niland for tomorrow's match against Iceland.

Lowther is confident of Nugent's ability to resume on an impressive note despite her lack of match practice. Wolseley, the 21-year-old Trinity College student, is poised to get a doubles start.

Ireland whitewashed Iceland on the last two occasions they met, in Federation Cup and European Nations competition.

Niland is the only member of the Irish squad with a current WITA ranking. It is crucially important - that her suspect foot injury withstands the test to enable her figure in all three rubbers.