ULSTER and Northampton hooker Allan Clarke, who won his first international cap when he came on as a replacement for Terry Kingston against Fiji in November, has a hip injury that could rule him out of contention for a place on the Ireland side to meet the United States in Atlanta on Saturday.

Clarke is one of three Ireland players currently under treatment. The Irish squad travelled to Atlanta last Sunday for a week of winter training at Life College prior to the international.

Outside half Eric Elwood has tendonitis, while second row David Tweed has a hip injury. Ireland manager Pat Whelan said yesterday: "Both David Tweed and Eric Elwood should be fit for consideration, but as of now we are not sure about Allan Clarke. We have some anxiety about him."

The team is due to be announced today around four o'clock Irish time but, even if Clarke is ruled out, there are two other hookers in the 30 man squad, Kingston and Shane Byrne, who is one of only three uncapped players in the panel.

Victor Costello, another of the uncapped trio, is fully fit. He got a knock on the cheekbone playing for Leinster last Saturday and had a precautionary x ray, but he has been able to take a full part in the training sessions in Atlanta. "He is fit and available for selection," said Whelan.

After Ireland arrived in Atlanta on Sunday evening it was straight to the gym for a one hour work out. Then on Monday there were two training sessions each lasting an hour and a half. While the temperature was in the 40s, those sessions were conducted in torrential rain.

"They were probably the most intensive and concentrated the players have endured and they were delighted with them despite the weather," said Whelan.

That view was endorsed by the players and by George Hook, the former Connacht coach, who is the liaison officer with the Ireland party.

"Everyone has settled in well, but the players know they are here to work and not on a holiday. The level of that work will continue to be intense over the next few days," added Whelan.

Part of the preparation is the study of videos. On Monday night the players watched a video of Ireland's match - against Fiji, with a special study of certain sequences in that match. Last night, it was Ireland's match against the United States last season and tonight, it, will be a study of the Scotland team, Ireland's first opponents in the International Championship on January 20th at Lansdowne Road.

Former All Black John Mitchell, who has been called into the Irish management structure, supervised the sessions for the Ireland forwards on Monday afternoon. "Both Murray Kidd and myself are delighted to have John Mitchell," said Whelan. "I am absolutely confident he has a lot to give the team. He has the technical knowledge, the playing experience and will fit into our set up. He has built up a very impressive coaching reputation. In addition to assisting me with general matters regarding the team, he will carry specials responsibility for the technical requirements of the forwards."

Mitchell, a former captain of Waikato and of the All Blacks in threes matches during their tour to England and Scotland in 1993, has coached Franser Technical College to win the Waikato club championship.

All five Ireland selectors will be at the match on Saturday. Frank Sowman, Joe Miles and Donal Lenihan fly to Atlanta today to join Kidd and Whelan. It is the first occasion that all members of an Ireland selection committee have travelled officially overseas with an Ireland team. Another sign of changed times.