Ireland and Japan appear well matched in hockey circles as they meet for the first time on Irish turf at Belfield tomorrow and on Sunday in further games to prepare for the European Championship and the Olympic qualifying tournament, respectively.

Neither can match the superpowers, though Japan managed a 1-1 draw with Pakistan in finishing fourth to India in the Asian Games while Ireland hold fifth place in the European rankings.

Hockey was introduced to Japan by an Irish clergyman. The first meeting between the two countries was in the Intercontinental Cup in Rome in 1981 when Ireland won 6-2. But in the Olympic qualifier in Auckland in 1991, the pool match ended in a 2-2 draw and Japan won the 9th/10th place play-off 3-2. Irish survivors this weekend from that New Zealand tournament are Ivan Bateman, Alan Dowd, Robbie Taylor and David McAnulty.

Judging by Wednesday's Dublin opener (1-0 against Leinster), the brisk Japanese are on an equal footing to Ireland and it would be a boost if the sturdy home squad were to emerge with a couple of well-honed wins.

Meanwhile, members of the Ireland under-21 squad can start looking forward to the challenge of the A division of the 2000 European Junior Championship which will be in Malaga. It will be a torrid assignment, however, as it will be held in July and Ireland's opponents in Pool B will be The Netherlands, England and France.

Ireland (v Japan) - I Bateman (Cork Harlequins), N Henderson (Pembroke Wanderers); J Black (Harlequins), P Brown (Instonians), N Buttimer (Cork C of I), A Dowd (Lisnagarvey), G Goulet (Avoca), C Hanna (Cork C of I), M Irwin (instonians), E Lutton (Newry Olympic), D McAnulty (Banbridge), F de Rosa (Pembroke Wanderers), D Smyth (Annadale), I Steen (Newry Olympic), J Stevenson (Lisnagarvey), R Taylor (Lisnagarvey); coach: J Clarke; manager: D Larmour.

European Junior Championship (Malaga, July 15th-22nd, 2000) - Pool A: Germany, Italy, Scotland, Spain; Pool B: England, France, Ireland, Netherlands.