International Rules News round-upThree players will be omitted from Seán Boylan's Irish squad at this afternoon's pre-match press conference with Australia coach Kevin Sheedy.
Both 22-man panels will be announced, and possibly even the starting line-ups, but considering the freedom of interchange in International Rules a starting XV is largely irrelevant.
Ireland have a bit of catching up to do in the preparation stakes as they convened at the Ardilaun House hotel in Galway only yesterday afternoon, holding their first session this week at Pearse Stadium.
The Australians also had a run-out at the Salthill venue, a necessity considering its proximity to the seafront and swirling winds, but Sheedy's panel have been in camp for a week in Australia and, since Sunday, in Killarney.
Co-captain Barry Hall (hamstring) and Aaron Davy (tight back) resumed training yesterday but both sat out the practice match after the morning and afternoon sessions.
In one obvious handicap compared with their professional counterparts, the Irish panel are expected to break up on Sunday evening and not meet up until later in the week. Ireland captain Kieran McGeeney will return to Dublin to play for Na Fianna in the Dublin championship semi-final against St Vincent's on Monday night. No other players have club duties midweek.
As part of the intensive promotional drive for this year's series, the GAA noted yesterday "a stronger than usual Australian media presence", and all the main national newspapers, have sent a correspondent to Ireland this week.
So what are they saying?
Samantha Lane in The Age noted "the feeling among the tourists is that, despite the crammed digestion of foreign rules and skills, the team could be better placed than it was before last year's series, which it won 2-0 on home turf."
The Herald Sun were equally upbeat on the tourists' chances of retaining the Cormac McAnallen Cup. "The round ball may be foreign to them but our International Rules squad in Ireland are adapting to it remarkably quickly. Several of them, including Brendan Fevola, Danyle Pearce and Kade Simpson look as if they've been playing the game all their lives."
Two television channels have also made the trek and both Tests will be shown live in Australia.
"This reflects the huge interest in the Test series in Australia, which has been increasing on an annual basis," continued the GAA statement.
Only terrace tickets remain on sale for next week's second Test at Croke Park, so approximately 110,000 people will attend both games.
Meanwhile, the hurling and football championship draws will take place at Croke Park on Saturday, November 4th at 5.15pm. They will be transmitted live on RTÉ Television and on BBC radio.
