CRICKET/ICC Trophy final preview: Although he is a proud South African, Ireland coach Adrian Birrell would relish the opportunity to take on his country in the 2007 ICC World Cup. If Ireland beat Scotland today in the ICC Trophy final at Castle Avenue (10.45am start) that is the challenge that lies ahead.

There will be no question of where his loyalties lie that day on the Caribbean island of St Kitts and it may be a good chance to show his countrymen exactly what he has been up to on this side of the world for the last few years. World Champions Australia and the Netherlands would also be lying in wait in one of the toughest groups in the competition.

Ironically, if Ireland lose today they would get into what many would see as a more manageable group with Pakistan, the West Indies and Zimbabwe, the latter two Birrell's team has beaten in the last two years.

But the coach is not letting that kind of thinking take away from his desire to win the trophy today. "It is very important for us to win. We want to get our name on the trophy," said Birrell.

"It's the first chance we've had of winning it and of course it will mean that we play South Africa in the World Cup. I really want to play South Africa," he said.

Birrell was speaking at last night's launch of the LHW 20/20 Cup finals day which takes place in Rathmines on Saturday, July 23rd.

"This is a very prestigious competition. Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe have all won it before and it would be great to add our name to that list," he said, admitting, however, that losing and getting into the group with Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe would be a good "consolation prize".

But it is certainly not a formality that Ireland will win today. Scotland are probably the form team of the competition, having come through as winners of what was a much tougher group than Ireland's.

Opening batsman and bowler Paul Hoffman is a key man for the Scots but they also have a potential match winner in Cedric English, who has been in the runs so far against Bermuda, the Netherlands and Namibia. Add to that the likes of Gavin Hamilton, Craig White, Ryan Watson and Dougie Brown and you have a more than useful team.

Castle Avenue was the scene for Ireland's most disappointing match in recent times, losing there in last summer's InterContinental Cup to Scotland, and with the exception of last year's victory in the European Cup in Utrecht, the Scots have been Ireland's bogey team for many years.

But according to Birrell, Ireland have Ed Joyce back for today's final which will be a real boost. The Middlesex left-hander missed Saturday's semi-final as he helped his county beat Hampshire by two wickets in the County Championship (he scored 54 and 35).

This presents the coach with a nasty selection problem and Ed's brother Dom - who has done so well when required so far in this tournament - is the likely one to lose out.

IRELAND (probable): J Molins, J Bray, A Botha, E Joyce, P Gillespie, E Morgan, T Johnston, A White, K McCallan, P Mooney, G Cooke.

SCOTLAND (probable): P Hoffmann, F Watts, R Watson, C English, G Hamilton, D Brown, D Lockhart, J Williamson, C Wright, G Maiden, J Blain.

Admission: Adults: €10; ICU members: €5; Under-16: Free.