Ireland coach Andy Kelly insists his side will not go chasing points in their crunch World Cup clash with Samoa in Parramatta, despite needing a six-point win to progress to a semi-final qualifier. Such a result would see them top Pool C on Wednesday and qualify for meeting with either Scotland or Fiji on the Gold Coast on November 10th.

The winner of that match will almost certainly face a last-four clash with defending champions Australia.

"We can't get stressed out by the winning margin," said Kelly. "We've got to earn the right to put points on the board. It all hinges on us putting right some of the things we felt we came up short with in our earlier match.

"It's a fairly standard winning margin in a close game. If you are 12 or 18 points behind in a game you wouldn't consider it an insurmountable margin.

"We've got to be patient and not start chasing the first game in the first minute."

Dublin-born frontrow forward Wayne Kerr, 24, who only took up rugby league in Carlow three years ago, will be on the bench in place of veteran Mick Cassidy, the former Wigan and England forward who misses out through injury.

"Mick has been carrying a calf strain during the course of this week," said Kelly. "We're hoping he will be ready for our third game.

"Wayne has worked hard and we think he's ready to drop in there. I know he's excited about it."

The call-up of Kerr, who played for London Skolars this year, is the only addition to the side that lost 22-20 to Tonga in their opening match last Monday.

Kelly also makes two positional changes, with scrumhalf Liam Finn and prop Gareth Haggerty coming into the starting line-up at the expense of Karl Fitzpatrick and Ryan Tandy, who both drop to the bench.

Finn caught the eye with his kicking game after coming on as a substitute against Tonga and Kelly is hoping he can bring more organisation to the side.

"They are two very different types of player," said Kelly. "We have different options and we're exercising our right to change the side.

"A lot of little things need to change, such as our structure. Some of our execution was a bit rusty. We need to be more patient and improve our kicking game."

Samoa, who have six Super League players in their line-up, are clear favourites to top the group after opening their campaign with a 20-12 win over Tonga in Penrith last Friday.

"Both are very physical sides but I think Samoa are more structured and therefore maybe harder to break down but we're confident we can do that," said Kelly.

Samoa will be without Leeds prop Kylie Leuluai after accepting a one-match ban for a high tackle on Fetuli Talanoa during Samoa's win over Tonga and he is replaced by Auckland Vulcans' forward Wayne McDade.

"It is a shame we won't have Kylie playing for us but for Wayne this is a great opportunity," said coach John Ackland. "He is a very proud Samoan and proud of his heritage and he's been waiting for this chance.

"We can't wait to see what he can do for us out on the field."

The only other change to Samoa's squad is Misi Talaupapa's inclusion on the bench at the expense of former Wakefield hooker Alby Talipeau.

Ireland: M Platt (Bradford); D Blanch (Wakefield), S Gleeson (Wakefield), S Littler (Salford), P Richards (Wigan); S Grix (Wakefield, capt), L Finn (Dewsbury), E O'Carroll (Wigan), B Beswick (Widnes), G Haggerty (Harlequins), B Harrison (Warrington), L Doran (Leigh), S Finnigan (Bradford). Replacements: M McIlorum (Wigan), K Fitzpatrick (Salford), W Kerr (London Skolars), R Tandy (Wests Tigers).

Samoa: S Samau (Gold Coast); M Utai (Canterbury Bulldogs), G Carmont (Wigan), W Talau (St Helens), F Meli (St Helens); N Vagana (South Sydney), B Roberts (Canterbury Bulldogs); W McDade (Auckland Vulcans), T Seuseu (Cronulla), T Puletua (Penrith), L Setu (St George Illawarra), D Solomona (Bradford), H Hansen (Wigan). Replacements: F Puletua (Penrith), A Lauitiiti (Leeds), M Taulapapa (Cronulla), J Paulo (Penrith).