INTERNATIONAL RULES NEWS:WITH IRELAND yet to finalise the travelling party for next week's departure to Australia for the International Rules series, their opponents' panel will be announced today.

As is customary, Australia are expected to name a fairly inexperienced side when new manager Rodney Eade, the former Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans coach, names his panel.

Eade, who succeeds Mick Malthouse, will be joined by a new management team of former internationals Wayne Campbell and Andrew McLeod, who come in for Matthew Lappin and Glen Jakovich in the Australian backroom team.

Jakovich will be a double loss in the absence of Australia goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher, who is injured, as the former selector was a successful International Rules goalkeeper in his playing days.

Gold Coast’s Zac Smith, who has junior soccer experience, is a front runner to take over in the position, which has no equivalent in the AFL game.

McLeod was his country’s player of the series in 2005, one of the most controversial of the international engagements, when his fellow co-captain in the Tests, Chris Johnson, was sent off in Melbourne after a dangerous “clothes-line” tackle on Tyrone’s Philip Jordan followed by his punching any Ireland player who remonstrated with him in the aftermath.

Among those besides Smith expected to be included in the Australian squad are Callan Ward, Trent McKenzie, Jack Trengove, Angus Monfries and Matt Suckling, who will all be representing their country for the first time.

“We’ve got a reasonably inexperienced squad, but there’s still a lot of talent there,” Eade said. “Obviously, the running ability is the main thing. It helps to have speed and repeat efforts with the continuous running. But our hands are tied a bit with the players who are unavailable.”

The first Test will be in Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium this day fortnight, October 28th, with the second Test in Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium a week later.