Samoa may be appreciably understrength, being denied about 10 first-choice players because of club commitments, but they will still pose a huge challenge for the hastily assembled Ireland Development XV at Donnybrook tomorrow.

Given provincial commitments last night and again today in the European Cup, the composition of the Irish team could yet change.

Their preparation has been fractured, and for the fledgling coaching triumvirate of Phil Lawlor, Mark McDermott and Kurt McQuilkin, establishing patterns with key personnel missing must have been quite difficult. The Ireland team has been together since Thursday, and the few players like Andy Dunne, Simon Keogh, Killian Keane and Colm McMahon who have missed part of the preparation, will link up with their team-mates today.

The match offers an opportunity for young players like Donncha O'Callaghan, Aidan Kearney, John Fogarty, Aidan McCullen, Kieron Campbell, McMahon and Dunne to impress the national team management, who will be in attendance. Most of the aforementioned don't regularly make European Cup match squads so this is a chance to serve up a reminder of their talent.

The Samoans represent a huge physical challenge and have picked a side that is pretty much representative of the team they will field for the Test match against Ireland at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week. Coach John Boe is assisted by former All Black legend, and arguably the best openside to have graced the sport, Michael Jones.

They boast some wonderfully evocative names in centre Elvis Seveali'I, left wing George Harder and loosehead prop Tomato Leupolu, but perhaps the only name that will be known to Irish fans is their outhalf Earl Va'a, who played club rugby in England for a time.

They look on this as ideal preparation for the Test match and for those who travel to Donnybrook there is the guarantee of some thunderous tackling and excellent ball skills.

IRELAND: D O'Sullivan; J McWeeney, S Coulter, K Keane, S Keogh; A Dunne, K Campbell; D Clohessy, J Fogarty, P Wallace; D O'Callaghan, A Kearney; L Toland (capt), A McCullen, C McMahon.

SAMOA: T Vili; L Fa'atau, E E Seveali'I, T Vaega, G Harder; E Va'a, S So'oialo; T Leupolu, J Meredith, J Tomuli; O Palepoi, T Curtis (capt); S Vaili, G Stowers, P Segi.