DAVID MATTHEWS hopes to deliver a message to the Irish selectors when the track and field season starts at Santry Stadium tomorrow.

Matthews runs in one of the featured races, the 800 metres, and his performance may well set the standard for the George V Ryan (men) and Louis Vandendries (women) competitions which traditionally open the season.

Not all of the UCD man's runs last season measured up to expectations, but now, after another intensive build up in Australia, he is hoping to go under one minute 47 seconds to put himself in line for a place in the team going to the world championships at Athens in August.

The men's 1,500 metres may be dominated by the Walker twins, Andrew and Keith, who, after competing in the world junior championships last summer, are now looking forward to the prospect of another rewarding season.