First Series: Hopes are high that tomorrow's first test in the Coca Cola International Rules series and its sequel next week will provide the most competitive international matches in three years.
Ireland, last year, and Australia, in 2000, won the series so comprehensively that neither test set the pulse racing.
The current optimism may be misplaced, but all you can go on in this bi-annual game is appearances. Events earlier in the week suggest that for all the scepticism surrounding their departure, the Australia panel is a well-chosen and well-prepared outfit.
The visitors may be missing some of Australian Rules' big names, but the top-up players appear to be even better suited to the international game.
One of the reasons behind this is the call-up of some young players who have played under-17 at international level. The acumen of Daniel Kerr and Chris Judd for International Rules was obvious at the practice match in Parnell Park last Wednesday.
Neither would have been obvious tourists but for that experience, although Kerr's mobility and drive had him averaging more than 17 possessions a match for West Coast during the AFL season.
As well as that extra mobility, the Australians appear to have brought a greater appreciation of goal scoring. The speed and penetration of the running attacks during the week and the sharpness of Nathan Brown, Stephen Milne and David Neitz represented a far more varied approach than simply trusting some big men up front to take marks.
It was also noticeable that most of the seven goals were created by quickly worked ball that opened up the Dublin selection's defence and made the six-pointers unmissable. Ireland's defence will be less easily taken apart.
Even the huge ruck men, whose contribution to tours has been traditionally recreational, look more in tune with the demands of the international game. Matthew Primus, at six feet eight, predictably took plenty of high ball but more surprisingly demonstrated a mule of a kick.
Manager Garry Lyon more or less admitted that they had taken Ireland a bit for granted last year - and understandably in the light of the demolition job performed two years ago - but as a shrewd media football analyst he will have learned a lot from the chastening experience of his first year in charge.
The GAA has raised its game since that disastrous 2000 series. Preparation is better, distractions less obvious and the team selection stronger. There has been some comment on the inexperience of the home side, but on form it is a strong combination.
Darren Fay is a big loss at full back. Although at times overshadowed by team-mates like John McDermott, this year's captain Séamus Moynihan and his predecessor Anthony Tohill, Fay has been very close to being Ireland's best performer over the four years of the test series.
Seán Martin Lockhart at corner back will also be missed, but the management is hopeful that the mobility and intelligence of Anthony Lynch will compensate here. Lynch and Meath's Evan Kelly were the most surprising omissions from last year's panel and it is good that both have made the breakthrough.
Kelly's strength, stamina and kicking ability make him a natural for this game and a lot will be expected of him tomorrow.
The idea of using Darragh Ó Sé as a full back to make marks in front of goal, or at least break the ball, is worth a try given the Kerry captain's catching ability, but he won't have the same positional instinct or alertness as Fay. And if the rumours that Paddy Christie won't make the playing panel are correct, the home side will be under pressure whenever the high-ball tactic is deployed.
Moynihan will be used out the field as he was last year. Ireland manager John O'Keeffe spoke of the probability of seeing the captain "in a more creative role" than he is used to with Kerry and as he played to perfection last year in Australia.
O'Keeffe is the most experienced International Rules coach in the world, so to speak. He has emphasised the point that if the team play Gaelic football well that they will do well. Last year indicated as much. Ireland's goals came from the adoption of a soccer approach that bamboozled Australia and other critical scores were created by placing reliable marksmen, like Padhraic Joyce, in space and letting them pot the three-pointers.
O'Keeffe also pointed out that had Ireland taken the goal chances available in the first quarter two years ago the outcome of the first test might have been very different.
To that end he has brought in the top goal-scorer of this year's championship, Dublin's Ray Cosgrove. If he can finish to that sort of standard at six points a goal, he'll be a valuable recruit.
As ever it's hard to make firm predictions for a first test, but the visitors look threatening in attack and Ireland may struggle in Fay's absence.
There are four quarters of 20 minutes each.
There are 15 players on the field and eight inter-change who may be used constantly.
Two referees, one from Ireland and one from Australia.
Goal posts are the same as football with outer posts as in Australian Rules.
A goal scored into the net is worth six points. An over (the equivalent of a football point) is worth three. A behind (between the goalposts and outer posts) is worth one point.
A mark is awarded for a clean catch and a free kick may be taken or possession simply used as normal.
Tackling is allowed between the hip and shoulder.
The ball must be released in the tackle.
In a departure from previous series the clock will not count down to zero. Instead it will build to 20 minutes with injury-time being added by the time keepers. This is to prevent players 'running down the clock'.
Ireland v Australia
GOALKEEPER - 20. Andrew Kellaway (Richmond)
DEFENDERS: 32. Cameron Bruce (Melbourne), 8. James Clement (Collingwood), 2. Chris Johnson (Brisbane), 3. Brett Montgomery (Port Adelaide), 21. Craig Bradley (Carlton), 18. Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs), 26. Mark Bickley (Adelaide), 12. Tyson Edwards (Adelaide), 30. Matthew Scarlett (Geelong).
MIDFIELD: 35. Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide), 11. Shane Crawford (Hawthorn), 29. Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle),10. Josh Francou (Port Adelaide), 45. Cameron Ling (Geelong), 37. Angelo Lekkas (Hawthorn), 7. Adam Simpson (Kangaroos), 5. Brad Scott (Brisbane), 13. Adam Yze (Melbourne), 1. Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide).
FORWARDS: 44. Stephen Milne (St Kilda), 6. Chris Judd (West Coast), 4. Daniel Kerr (West Coast), 16. Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide), 17. Nathan Brown (Western Bulldogs), 14. Luke Darcy (Western Bulldogs), 9. David Neitz (Melbourne).
Ireland
GOALKEEPER: Peter Burke (Mayo)
DEFENDERS: Graham Canty (Cork), Anthony Lynch (Cork), Paddy Christie (Dublin), Colin Holmes (Tyrone), Tomás Ó Sé (Kerry), Kieran McGeeney (Armagh), Declan Meehan (Galway), Anthony Rainbow (Kildare), Seamus Moynihan (Kerry).
MIDFIELD: Eamon O'Hara (Sligo),
Dara Ó Sé (Kerry), Paul McGrane (Armagh), Cormac McAnallen (Tyrone), Joe Bergin (Galway), Tadhg Kennelly, (Kerry/Sydney Swans)
FORWARDS: Brendan Jer O'Sullivan (Cork), Trevor Giles (Meath), Evan Kelly (Meath), Nicholas Walsh (Cavan/Melbourne), Dessie Dolan (Westmeath), Derek Savage (Galway), Padhraic Joyce (Galway), Ciarán McManus (Offaly), Graham Geraghty (Meath), Ray Cosgrove (Dublin).
STAND BY PLAYERS: Stephen Cluxton (Dublin), James Gill (Mayo), Darren Mc Gee (Dublin), Ronan Clarke (Armagh).
REFEREES: Brian White (Wexford).
Brian McLaren (Australia).
