Tackling problem of getting stuck in

International Rules: With the first International Rules Test just three days away, Ireland manager John O'Keeffe will have a far clearer idea of where he stands after this afternoon's practice match against a Western Australia selection, writes Seán Moran, in Perth.

O'Keeffe has put his faith in an adjusted tactical approach and a relatively inexperienced panel of players, whom, he conceded, will struggle to compete physically.

"We're going to have to use a fair bit of Gaelic football intelligence. We know we're not physically strong enough - particularly in upper body strength - to mix it in tight situations. We're going to kick-pass more than ever before."

Yesterday saw the Irish panel undergo a light workout in Bassendean, just hours after they had arrived late on Sunday night. But most slept well enough on arrival to be up and about early enough for the training session to be brought forward to mid morning.

"We were just checking how they were," said O'Keeffe. "How did people travel? Were they suffering from jet lag the following morning? We made a conscious decision to try and get into the Australian clock as soon as possible.

"We were ahead of time getting here on Sunday, so most of the team got to bed by one o'clock and we got up for breakfast at 10 and decided to go for a limbering session. They would probably have liked another hour or two in bed, but we reckoned that they'd be tired by night and would probably sleep well and by Tuesday we reckon they should be well into it."

Today's match, against the same players who gave Australia a searching challenge, should be a good diagnostic for how Ireland's preparations are progressing. The Western Australia selection will be tougher than the AFL Academy selection which usually provide the practice opposition - or indeed the Dublin selection which plays Australia when the series is in Croke Park.

"I think even the opposition was competitive and physical," said O'Keeffe. "They were a lot stronger than the young academy side we normally played in Melbourne, and definitely more proficient than the Dublin selection. Very competitive. Many of them are second division Aussie Rules players and they're playing against the stars. So there's a bit of pride involved and they'd have learned a lot from that.

"They've plenty of players and I'd say we'll get a right eye-opener tomorrow (Tuesday) night. I intend to play the full 27 to get a look at the fringe players."

The inexperienced Irish players have, however, been training weekly through the summer at Ballymun Kickhams beside Dublin Airport. Although they will be well-practised in the international game, O'Keeffe conceded there is one area that has been hard to simulate.

"The one thing missing from all our training sessions in Ireland would have been the physical contact, the intensity of the physicality. It's just not in the psyche of a Gaelic footballer. We're inclined to stand off, not drive into the tackle. That's the biggest shock we'll get."

Given the importance of the tackle to the Australians, this instinct to hold back has to be addressed. Ireland suffer doubly from not being alert to the danger of the incoming tackle and too reticent in the application of it.

"We've worked a little bit on it," said O'Keeffe, "not enough, but we have used tackle bags and have gone body on body in some drills. But again, there's a huge reluctance among Gaelic football players to hit aggressively the way the Aussies do. It's like a rugby player would do: their first intention is to grab you."

He suggests the best counter-measure is to avoid physical confrontation wherever possible, given that the Australian tendency to hunt in packs makes it impossible for a runner to penetrate cover. O'Keeffe is familiar with the swarm defence after Kerry's defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final.

"We need to devise ways not to get involved too much physically, use our side-step to avoid the tackle. They tend to defend in twos and threes and you've no real chance of getting through. It's a bit like the Tyrone tactic, and the biggest mistake we made in Kerry was not moving the ball quicker. You pay then."

O'Keeffe is also concerned about Ireland's ability to win breaking ball. Unlike the Australians, who attack possession on the ground, Irish players tend to go in feet first and lose out on many of the tussles for possession.

"We're giving up an awful lot of breaking ball because they're willing to dive in head first and they're sweeping up 90 per cent of that ball. We're not competing on the floor. If it falls well for us we try and put the soccer touch to it, but in general we're losing out on those melees for the ball around the middle of the field."

Another important aspect of the practice match will be to monitor how the players from the All-Ireland finalists, Tyrone and Armagh, get on given their comparative lack of preparation. "Particularly for Kevin Hughes and Steven McDonnell," says O'Keeffe. "This will be very important for them and they'll get more playing time than the rest.

"Cormac McAnallen and Kieran McGeeney are well experienced at this stage, and Paul McGrane's been involved even if he hasn't as much Test experience."

It's not all apprehension for Ireland's manager though. He believes quick use of the ball can exploit the team's attacking assets: fast, elusive full forward players. Their ability, he believes, can exploit a potential Australian weakness.

"I have a feeling that some of their marking tends not to be very tight, particularly on the wings. Their full back is a very good marker, but the wings and the corners might be vulnerable. If the likes of Declan Browne and Beano McDonald get a ball and turn and find a yard or two to work with, they have time and space to kick.

"The fact that we're generally lighter and smaller than recent teams means our combination in the full-forward line is going to have to be slicker and quicker, more high-tempo."