Equestrian Super LeagueCian O'Connor has been confirmed on the Irish squads for the two Samsung Super League fixtures at Dublin and Hickstead.

O'Connor, whose three-month international suspension expires on Sunday, will be riding Waterford Crystal, the horse whose positive dope test in Athens resulted in the loss of Ireland's only medal from the 2004 Olympics.

The pair will make their seasonal debut on the international circuit next week at the new Dutch show in Gelderland, close to Arnhem, before the team call-up at Hickstead at the end of the month.

A week later, O'Connor and Waterford Crystal will be part of the Irish team in Dublin, where the home side will be hoping to repeat its 2004 victory.

Joining O'Connor at the British Nations Cup fixture at Hickstead will be Denis Lynch, Shane Breen, Marie Burke and Dave Quigley. O'Connor is the only member of the Hickstead squad that has also been named for Dublin. Also listed for team selection at the RDS are Jessica Kurten, Billy Twomey, Captain Shane Carey and Harry Marshall.

Twomey's top horse, the stallion Luidam which missed the Olympics due to injury, will be jumping in Dublin, but is not expected to be selected for the Aga Khan Cup after a lengthy battle back to fitness.

"Luidam will be back, but he's unlikely to be ready for the team," chairman of selectors Taylor Vard said this week.

The selectors also confirmed the quartet that will be flying the Irish flag at the European show jumping championships in San Patrignano, Italy, in a fortnight's time. Kurten and Marshall will team up with Robert Splaine and world champion Dermott Lennon. But plans to add a fifth rider have been abandoned.

"We're not sending a fifth rider", Taylor Vard told The Irish Times. "We need everybody else for Hickstead or we're saving them for Dublin."