Ireland go into the Celtic Cup at Queen's University in Belfast this weekend as the title holders, having beaten Wales and Scotland in Dublin last year when France were absent. But the Irish squad will be the underdogs as the other three countries have the incentive of competing in the World Cup qualifier in Edinburgh next month whereas Ireland, having lost ground in Europe, will not be involved.
So for the Irish coach John Clarke it is a case of continuing the redevelopment programme which started a year ago and was advanced to some degree in the Bangladesh tournament in March.
Of the 18 who went to Dhaka, Carl Burns is not available due to exams while Gordon Elliott is unfortunate to be ruled out because of injury. They are replaced by Ivan Steen and Graham Shaw, though Shaw - who is an attacker of the same verve as Elliott - remains as a standby player along with Brian Waring.
In the course of the weekend, however, an opportunity may well arise for Shaw (23) to win his first cap after all his efforts at under-21 level and in contributing to Glenanne's unprecedented successes.
On the opposite scale, Dan Clarke is poised to make his 100th international appearance against Scotland tomorrow, assuming he comes through unscathed inthis evening's game against Wales.
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