International Rules Countdown to first Test: The hottest day of the week in Perth saw the Australians conduct their first training session at Subiaco Oval, where tomorrow's first Test will be played.

The players went through a fast-moving routine of high-speed hand passing and shooting practice.

There was also a strong Irish presence. Aside from the travelling media present, numbering well into double figures, and the furtive presence of Ireland selectors Larry Tompkins and Mickey Whelan up in the stand, two of the ringmasters at the training session were Dublin brothers Jim and Brian Stynes, both now resident in Australia.

Jim, after a hugely successful AFL career, has been a constant presence as assistant manager of his adopted country's International Rules team and he has been joined since last year by his brother, who played centrefield for Dublin's All-Ireland-winning team of 10 years ago.

Brian Stynes decided to emigrate with his wife and children in order to be with his extended family, many of whom joined Jim in Australia over the years.

He offered his services to the Irish team earlier in the year but when the GAA declined he was happy to play a role with the home team.

"I said it to the lads back there and Seán Kelly but I know it is hard to get involved and hard to fit everybody in. There are lots of other people that want to be there - in the future it could happen some time.

"When Australia asked me to get involved I wasn't going to pass it up, because I love the game.

"The other thing was that because of the result last year, if it kept going like that there would be no series so if I can offer anything on this side to get it back on even terms that's great."

Whereas the movement of the Australian players was expected to be impressive, their ability to kick the round ball was also remarked on even in the low-tempo atmosphere of a training session. Stynes was concentrating on teaching them to kick and illustrating the best techniques for what is not a standard skill in the AFL.

"Basically it comes down to whether our lads on the day can take their scores," he says of the Australians. "If we take our scores we've got a good chance - if we are kicking them into the stands it is not going to happen."

Before the session debutant Australian panellist Kepler Bradley, a local boy playing his footy with Essendon, caused some raised eyebrows when he told local reporters that given another fortnight's preparation, his team "would flog Ireland".

A more familiar face back home was also impressed. Seán O'Sullivan, who played for Kerry in the 2002 All-Ireland final, was part of the Australian practice session on Sunday.

"They have pace, their speed is unbelievable," he said. "They'll have an advantage there. The Australians can more than match the Irish for pace. From what I heard, Kevin Sheedy wanted a quick squad. He's got one."

Meanwhile, Ross Munnelly was fighting to be fit for selection yesterday after sustaining a dead leg in a training-ground collision with Offaly's Ciarán McManus on Tuesday.

The Laois forward, whose speed and shooting accuracy had been greatly impressing the Ireland management, was stepping gingerly around the team hotel with an ice pack strapped to his leg in between two swimming-pool sessions.

No decision has yet been made on his fitness and the team will be named this evening in Perth. A hard choice awaits Peter McGrath and his selectors, as they must leave out four players, and so far, unlike previous years, there are as yet no obvious candidates in terms of form or - barring Munnelly - fitness.

Meanwhile, it has been announced that the match committee, which meets today, will announce details of the match officials for tomorrow's first Test.

Consisting of Adrian Anderson and Kevin Sheahan from the AFL and Pat Daly, representing GAA director general Liam Mulvihill, who hasn't travelled, the committee will have to decide between the two officials who have travelled with the Irish entourage: Cork's Michael Collins, who took charge of last year's Tests, and Meath's David Coldrick, who refereed the junior series earlier this year.

There has been no explanation of the presence of two Irish referees, despite the fact that in the past only one official has travelled with either team.

Finally it appears there will be rain tomorrow. The international series has had little luck with weather either here or in Croke Park, and previous Tests in Australia have been affected by rain. On this occasion it shouldn't impact too much on the crowd, as the Subiaco Oval is all but sold out.