Women's HockeyGene Muller's desire to find the strongest possible opposition for his team in the build-up to April's Olympic qualifying tournament in Canada has resulted in a 10-day trip to New Zealand later this month being added to the squad's schedule.
Ireland will play four matches on the trip, two against New Zealand and two against Olympic hosts China, before returning home to complete their build-up with games against Britain and France at Belfield.
Before then the squad, which is only back a fortnight from a 10-day visit to South Africa, is off to Terrassa in Spain for three days' training followed by two matches, next Tuesday and Wednesday, against the Spanish.
UCC's Hollie Moffett, who has yet to win a cap but played against the Australian Institute of Sport when they visited Dublin earlier in the season, is included in the squad which is without Ballymoney's Bridget McKeever who is unavailable for the trip.
Muller will name his squad for New Zealand after the five days in Spain.
The big game of the weekend on the club front is the meeting of Loreto and Hermes, second and fourth respectively, in the league, with leaders Pembroke Wanderers at home to UCD and third-placed Railway hosting Three Rock.
Weekend Fixtures
Today - Junior A League Cup final (at Grange Road): St Andrews v Loreto Beaufort, 2.30.
IRISH SQUAD (for training week in Spain): C McKean, N Symmons, L Healy (all Loreto), E Clarke, C Parkhill, S McCay (all Randalstown), M Goode, L Moore (both Pembroke Wanderers), E Cregan, C Sargent (both Cork Harlequins), R Flinn, L Jacob (both UCD), H Moffett, J O'Halloran (both UCC), S Quinn, E Stewart (both Armagh), J McDonough (Belfast Harlequins), C O'Brien (Chelmsford).
Tomorrow - Leinster League - Division One: Trinity v Genesis, Santry, 10.0; Old Alexandra v Corinthian, Grange Road, 12.0; Pembroke Wanderers v UCD, Ballsbridge, 2.0; Loreto v Hermes, Beaufort, 2.15; Railway Union v Three Rock, Sandymount, 2.30. Division Two: Pembroke II v Glenanne, Ballsbridge, 12.30; Bray v Corinthian II, Bray, 1.0; Old Alexandra II v Clontarf, Booterstown, 1.15; Railway Union II v Loreto II, Sandymount, 4.0; Hermes II v Suttonians, Booterstown, 4.15.
Munster Senior Cup - Quarter-finals: UCC v Catholic Institute, Mardyke, 12.0; Ashton v Univ of Limerick, Ashton, 12.30; Cork Harlequins v Church of Ireland, Farmers Cross, 3.30; Belvedere v Bandon, Ballincollig, 12.0.
Ulster League - Premier League: Ards v Armagh, Ards Leisure Centre, 1.0; Ballymena v Belfast Harlequins, Ballymena Showgrounds, 1.0; Ballymoney v Pegasus, Joey Dunlop Centre, 2.30; Randalstown v Lurgan, Antrim Forum, 2.30.
Sunday - Jacqui Potter Leinster Cup - Third round: Trinity v Glenanne, Santry, 1.0; Hermes v Railway Union, Sandymount, 3.0; Pembroke Wanderers v Loreto, Ballsbridge, 3.0; Railway Union II v Loreto II, Sandymount, 4.45.
