Australia v Ireland Subiaco Oval, PerthFor those with a mind to revel, Perth has been as much a challenge as an opportunity, but the significant difference between its nightlife and that of Adelaide two years ago is the complete absence of Australian footballers. Seán Moran reports from Perth

The urge to socialise back then culminated in an undignified second-half disintegration by the home side during the final Test.

There is little danger of such negligence this time.

Australia's preparation, for this evening's first Test (11.45 Irish time) in the Foster's International Rules series at the Subiaco Oval, has been more extensive and intensive than in any previous home series, with early-morning sessions followed by afternoon ones for good measure. There is a sense of focus about the players, and the old questions as to why they don't take it all as seriously as the Irish are now curiously redundant.

The assumption is that the rugby World Cup has put the team on its guard and made the more awkward any prospect of losing a home series in this modified version of the national game. That's not the whole story, though, and it's been noticeable that the rugby question is never really answered, as if the AFL is as reluctant as its GAA cousins to define itself through the prism of other sports.

What hasn't been as obvious away in the northern hemisphere is the impact of the Bali bombing a year ago. That atrocity made the same sort of impression on Australia as September 11th. Bali is a popular, close-season holiday destination for AFL players and there was intense concern amongst the national team who were in Dublin at the time.

Captain Shane Crawford's speech before the throw-in struck a chord back at home, coming as it did at the end of the official day of mourning, and the emotional context of wearing the national jersey deepened for all concerned. This year players have actually asked to be considered for the panel, which is finalised by drafting in replacements for those All Australian award winners unable to participate.

"Players really want to take part," said Crawford. "For example, Sydney's Brett Kirk was married on Saturday and has postponed his honeymoon in order to represent his country."

Of course, from an Irish point of view the fact that Australia is at last engaging with the series has its downside. And that in a year when manager John O'Keeffe has enough negatives to be going on with. Never before has the travelling Ireland side had to cope with so many injuries and withdrawals.

Losing players as integral to the team as Séamus Moynihan, Trevor Giles, Darren Fay and Tadhg Kennelly is a serious blow for the team. But ill-fortune has trailed after O'Keeffe, with Declan Browne - the exemplar of a fast-moving, skilful shooter - falling prey to an ugly challenge in the practice match and now unlikely to play in either Test. Then there is the risk inherent in placing the entire tactical emphasis on speed and ball technique.

O'Keeffe hopes to avoid physical clashes wherever possible: "We will try to maximise what we're supposed to be good at and minimise contact," he said at yesterday's joint media conference.

The problem arises if contact can't be avoided, as it surely can't for 80 minutes. Will the bruising realities inhibit Ireland or physically wear down the players?

Padhraic Joyce was mentioned by O'Keeffe's Australian counterpart, Garry Lyon, as one of the Irish players of whom he was aware - a reflection of the Galway man's precise play-making in the practice match with a Western Australia selection. But Joyce won't have quite the same space or time to pick out the shots tonight.

His role is akin to that of an American quarterback, holding his nerve until he draws a bead on the right target while opponents rush in to flatten him. There's no margin of error, unless he wants to end up functioning as a tackle bag.

Australia's familiarity with, and zest for, the tackle means there is a danger for Ireland that players will be distracted even subconsciously by the imminence of the threat, and that those who do get hit will be a bit wobbly for a while. O'Keeffe even spoke about the desirability of interchanging someone immediately after a heavy tackle.

The Irish manager is jumpy about the interchange.

There weren't the facilities to rehearse it properly on Tuesday and teams have been warned that technical infringements of the procedure will be picked up and punished. It's an area where the Australians have a little-commented-on advantage, given their practised ability to rotate players throughout a match and the instinctive resistance of Irish footballers to being replaced, albeit temporarily.

Both teams (the starting 15 plus eight interchange) won't be announced until this morning. Australia have one injury casualty - Chad Fletcher, from the local West Coast Eagles, will be particularly disappointed to miss the Subiaco Test - but otherwise Lyon has a full hand.

If Ireland's weaponry is more of the rapier, with players like Beano McDonald, Des Dolan and Steven McDonnell at the sharp end, the home attack is definitely more of a broadsword. A year ago Matthew Pavlich was converted from midfield to full forward and wrought havoc in the first Test in Dublin, using his height and kicking skills to end up as top scorer.

Unfortunately for Australia he was injured for the second Test, but he returns to menace Ireland.

Nathan Brown's ability to kick points (three-point overs in the international game) was an embarrassment to a wasteful Irish attack, but he was ultimately well marked by Giles, who, of course, isn't here.

In the eyes of many, international rookie Barry Hall may be the greatest threat of the lot. Hard, muscular and six feet six, the Sydney Swans forward is a surprisingly nimble ball player and has blossomed into one of the most feared marksmen in his game, shooting 56 goals this season.

According to Lyon, Hall has benefited from Jim Stynes's tutelage and has impressed with how quickly he's adapted to the round ball. O'Keeffe is so wary of him that he deliberately omitted Hall's name from a list of Australian players to watch - lest anyone realise Ireland are well aware of the danger.

Lyon is in trouble on the goal-keeping front. Andrew Kellaway, the best Australian goalkeeper by a distance, is about to get married and his place goes to the inexperienced Glen Jakovich. But there is sufficient uncertainty for Australia to have prepared an option, Clint Bizzell. Two years ago such instability cost the home team badly when Kieran McGeeney lobbing stand-in goalkeeper Simon Goodwin from 50 metres.

You never know with these matches what's going to happen because the game is played only twice a year.

So you develop opinions based on preparations and playing strength.

Maybe if O'Keeffe's team can hit top gear, their superior skills can trigger the side's attractively positive game plan. But the hunch here is that Ireland are missing too many quality players to be able to live with an intensified home challenge.

On TV: RTÉ 1, 11.45