Ireland manager Brian McEniff last night announced three changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow's second Test in Adelaide. The switches are not that relevant in terms of personnel, as the eight inter-change players have yet to be announced. With three members of the panel out through injury, this means that only one fit player will have to be dropped from the playing pool of 23.

Injuries have ruled out Dermot McCabe (who hasn't played any role after an ankle injury last week), Niall Buckley and Ciarβn Whelan (the culmination of a three-day, off-on-off again saga). Kieran McGeeney twisted his ankle at training but is expected to be fit, as is Darragh ╙ SΘ who suffered a recurrence of a chronic back complaint.

Amid all these withdrawals, Galway's current All Star wing back (and odds-on to retain that distinction) Declan Meehan arrived in Adelaide together with Tipperary hurler Tomβs Dunne ahead of their Eircell Player of the Month presentations today. Meehan trained with Ireland and inevitably triggered speculation he might join the panel.

"I haven't as yet spoken to the lad," said McEniff afterwards. "He only got here at 6.30 this morning and often you're more tired on your second day. It is a possibility but I'd give first consideration to the lads that have been here, naturally."

The three players who started last week but who have not made the initial line-up are Sligo's Eamonn O'Hara, Padraig Joyce of Galway and Kerry's John Crowley. In their places are Graham Canty (Cork), Kieran McGeeney (Armagh) and Brendan Devenney (Donegal).

One obvious deduction from the first Test was the value of Seamus Moynihan further out the field and the Kerryman starts at centrefield. "His distribution of the ball is one of the reasons we did much better in the second half," said McEniff. "He delivers a lovely, weighted ball into the forwards that's easy to make a mark from and on top of that he has the capacity to spin off players without them getting a tackle in on him."

The Ireland manager strongly hinted that three of the four players who missed out on last week's Test (with the exception of McCabe) would be given a run at some stage tomorrow. "All three will get a chance to start but I wouldn't qualify it further than that. At this point it (the man to be dropped from the final 23) could be one of the players who played the last day."

It appears that a number of Irish players are to be hauled in for a talking to after the abusive behaviour to which Australian umpire Brett Allen was subjected last Friday. No action will be taken and the initiative is being presented as an informative one.

"I would hope there would be no animosity towards the Australian ref," said McEniff. "There's a meeting between Pat Daly and Kevin Sheahan and the management and I think they've asked for three players - I think you can speculate that they were chiding the referee after the match - to see what's allowed and not allowed."

Selector Paddy Clarke who was suspended for five matches for his part in the coursing of Allen, will be replaced on the sideline by team doctor Tom Foley and the injured Niall Buckley whose joint task will be to monitor the inter-change players' comings and goings.

Praising Clarke's hard work, McEniff made the point that his assistant would be missed not just this week but also next year when a new management team will be looking for someone to provide continuity from the previous two-year spell.

"It's a pity about Paddy Clarke because you do need continuity. Maybe Mickey Moran might make himself available again or John O'Keeffe. I'll be making my recommendations to Central Council particularly about the home leg. I'll be recommending John O'Keeffe stays on." He was also critical of the length of Clarke's sentence and hinted strongly he would be recommending some means whereby people could appeal decisions taken by the joint GAA/AFL tribunal.

"The length of suspension was somewhat hectic. I would hope that when we get home, some procedure might be found to review it. The mechanism currently isn't there in place."

Having expressed some surprise that the Australian team hadn't gathered together in Adelaide until yesterday, McEniff said he was winding down preparations for his final international Test.

"At this stage, two days' rest might be satisfactory," he said when questioned about training plans before the match.

After complaints that the size of the goalmouth in Football Park Adelaide was not according to match regulations, officials of the AFL rectified the situation yesterday morning.