The first big international test of the cross-country season at Ferrara in Italy tomorrow is expected to provide some significant pointers for the World Championships in Belfast next March.

In the absence of Catherina McKiernan, Ireland's prospects of making the headlines in the fifth European Championships are significantly diminished. Yet it promises to be a highly informative day. Among those hoping to lay down markers for the World Championships is Denmark's Carsten Jorgensen, who in the absence of Portugal's Paulo Guerra took the title 12 months ago. Mahamed Mourhit, a naturalised Belgian, is also running well, but the bigger threat may come from Spain's Fabian Roncero, Europe's fastest 10,000 metres track runner for the last two years.

Roncero will be joined by two world marathon champions, Martin Fiz and Abel Anton, in an experienced Spanish squad which will present current champions Portugal with a formidable test. Seamus Power leads Ireland's team and on the evidence of the recent national inter-counties championship at Ballyhaise could be in with a chance of a top-six placing.

Cormac Finnerty and Martin McCarthy, who were immediately behind him on that occasion, will also run well and the squad is completed by the three mature Dubliners, Noel Berkeley, Noel Cullen and Peter Matthews.

Valerie Vaughan, Una English and Maureen Harrington are the main Irish contenders for the women's title, but for all their experience it is hard to see any of the trio finishing in the leading group.