GAELIC GAMES/International Rules Ireland squad: Ireland manager Peter McGrath has unveiled his panel to take on Australia in the International Rules series later this month in Perth and Melbourne. The emphasis is unchanged from last year's crushing victory, and the team will concentrate on playing to their strengths.

There are 10 new caps in the party: Ronan Clarke, Colm Cooper, Brian Dooher, Philip Jordan, Ryan McMenamin, Michael McVeigh, Micheál Meehan, Owen Mulligan, Ross Munnelly and Stephen O'Neill.

Included are seven members of the Tyrone team which won this year's All-Ireland just nine days ago.

Three of the four Tyrone players mentioned above were, however, previously selected for Ireland, but last year Jordan was injured and McMenamin club-tied, and in 2003 Dooher had to withdraw with flu.

"I said last year and say it again now that the players best equipped for this game are the very best Gaelic footballers, and there are a lot of very accomplished Gaelic footballers in Tyrone at the moment," McGrath said. "There are seven in the squad, which is a reflection of the quality of their football all year and how fresh they are.

"We have put a lot of effort at training into shooting. The strength of our game is the ability to kick three-pointers. We'll go for six-pointers certainly, but only when the chance is virtually certain. But the life-blood will be three-pointers.

"That's why we've gone for players who are adept at point-scoring under pressure."

The point was echoed by captain Pádraic Joyce: "With the elite players we have we should have no problem getting three-pointers. Our game plan is to get them."

McGrath acknowledged the greatest competition for places was in attack. The biggest surprise in the selection, which is fairly uncontroversial, is the omission of Derry captain Paddy Bradley after an outstanding season.

"One of the things we tried to do was to get the balance between half forwards and inside forwards or strikers. I spoke to Paddy on Saturday evening and he was very disappointed, and I said to him that I understood his pain; it was painful for me to tell him. Players accept at this level that the margin by which someone gets in is really, really paper-thin, and Paddy's case was very, very marginal."

The team have been hit by a couple of high-profile withdrawals. Armagh's Steven McDonnell was extremely impressive in the past two series but has had to drop out for personal reasons, and Tadhg Kennelly, fresh from his AFL Grand Final triumph with the Sydney Swans, had to pull out in order to undergo an ankle operation.

The former Kerry minor, however, is back in Ireland and will brief the panel on his AFL colleagues at the end of the week.

"Tadhg had surgery on Friday," said McGrath. "This was a very sudden development, as earlier in the week he was in and was keen. I feel we still have the talent despite the losses and that our chances are in no way diminished by forced absences."

There is one more hurdle to surmount, with delayed county championship fixtures to be played in Tyrone and Kerry this weekend, but McGrath hasn't named any back-up players and will wait to see if any replacements are needed.

One controversial omission last year was Kerry's Colm Cooper, who is named this time. McGrath was positive about the player's commitment this time.

"Last year when Colm came up to our final trial he showed very little appetite and looked tired, physically and mentally. Our opinion was that he wouldn't have been an asset. Now he looks stronger and is much more positive, fresh and keen; no one was ever in any doubt about his marvellous talent."

Cork hurling captain Seán Ó hAilpín is also included after excellent displays in last year's series despite not having played intercounty football for a number of years. Once again, according to McGrath, Ó hAilpín has demonstrated a great aptitude for the game and was impressive in last Saturday's trial match against an Australian under-21 selection.

"Watching him last Saturday - and I admit that the opposition mightn't have been top drawer - when we played him in the full- back line, his reading of the game and handling of the ball, strength and passing were at the same level as all the other guys who've been playing intercounty football all year. He's a one-off. He could probably play basketball for Ireland if he wanted."

One player who mightn't have been an obvious selection for such a physical game is Laois's Ross Munnelly, but McGrath had been impressed by the player's commitment and credentials for International Rules.

"Ross coped very, very well. He's an all-action player who covers a great mileage in matches and has a great ability to take points, and for someone who's small he's exceptionally courageous. He's done a lot of work on his own and actually contacted a rugby coach to help him with tackling. His enthusiasm and application would be exemplary."

In general, the physical preparation has gone well with McGrath confident that fitness, frequently targeted as one of Ireland's weaknesses, won't be a disadvantage in the series.

"Fitness levels in Gaelic football are a lot higher now than they were five and 10 years ago. The difference between the fitness of Australian Rules players and intercounty players has been narrowed down, I believe, to almost minuscule proportions."

According to former Dublin manager Mickey Whelan, who has replaced John O'Leary as one of the selectors, the main challenges of preparation have been eased by the fitness levels of the players.

"We have to re-orientate the players from our game in term of the run, the bounce, the mark and the tackle. In the early phases that's what we concentrate on. It's made easier because by and large they're very fit and are excellent players and can adapt easily."

Finally, team sponsors Coca-Cola have established a facility on their website, www.coca-colabottlers.com, for supporters to post good wishes to the players ahead of the Test series, which begins in just over two weeks.