Ireland find themselves on familiar terrain this week. Based in the Castletroy Hotel, training in the NCTC, and about to face into another lion's den as underdogs. Familiar and, one senses, in a curious way more enticing.

What particularly tickles their fancy is that instead of a French side bidding for successive Grand Slams, they have the auld enemy, England, themselves seeking a fourth successive Triple Crown. England expects and Ireland doesn't. Just about perfect.

Strictly by the form book, on lines through Wales, New Zealand or Scotland for example, Ireland haven't a snowball's chance. But then again, this is England we're talking about.

"We're looking forward to going to Twickenham," said manager Pat Whelan. Looking forward to a win? Whelan repeated his first comment and then added: "I don't think any Irishman ever set foot on English soil without looking forward to it, in any aspect of his life."

Coach Warren Gatland gave a subdued reaction to the couple of changes in the English side. "They've still a very strong side no matter who they pick." The selection of Tony Diprose, more of a footballing number eight than Newcastle's abrasive Dean Ryan, would seem to signal a change in emphasis, but Gatland wasn't convinced.

"I don't really know about that. I'm not really sure what's in Clive's mind at the moment," he chuckled. "You don't know whether they're going to play it tight or whether they're under pressure to throw it around. I've been talking to a few of the London Irish guys about it and they're not 100 per cent sure of it either."

To a degree, Ireland are back where they were a month ago, coming off a failure to beat one of their Celtic rivals at home, with criticism still ringing in their ears.

"Obviously we're underdogs and they're a great side, and we're going out there to compete as much as we can," said Gatland, dutifully playing his role to the hilt.

"We were obviously disappointed with a number of aspects against Wales and we want to improve on those. We had a close look at the video this morning and identified a number of areas we hope to improve."

Gatland admitted that, on repeat viewing, "there were a number of things we were disappointed with" against Wales. "But there were also lots of positives as well."

Such as? "Well, some of the players performed reasonably well. The two second-rows were very good, and Reggie Corrigan worked really hard around the field. Just a couple of decisions were a little disappointing. "We're still creating lots of opportunities, and that's a positive as far as I'm concerned. It's a negative that we didn't finish, but at least we are creating opportunities."

Explaining why this is so is probably something that has been exercising Gatland's mind more than anything else. "It's a state of mind. We probably panicked a little bit close to their goal-line a few times, rather than slow things down. Probably a little bit of inexperience at certain times as well."

On the Tuesday before the opening game against Scotland, Brian Ashton quipped that the target for the Five Nations campaign was two wins, and that they would be against France and England. It's extraordinary to think that Ireland could actually be heading to Twickenham with this unlikeliest of all doubles still alive. At a pinch, they might even be seeking another Grand Slam 50 years on.

This time last year, Ireland were about to experience a second record defeat, albeit softened by the sole win over Wales. So how does Gatland evaluate this season's curate's egg of a campaign.

"The team's made some progress," reckoned Gatland. "The fact that we led in all the matches with sort of 15-20 minutes to go is reasonably encouraging; it's just disappointing that we haven't been able to finish.

"It seems sometimes from my point of view that the media and the public are quite happy to accept being beaten by 30 points rather than have an opportunity to win the match. To get beaten by 30 points, people can say: `Oh, you just weren't good enough. You were completely outclassed in all facets.' So, in terms of that, I think the team has made progress in the last 12 months and I think a lot of credit for that should go to Brian Ashton."

Yet, curiously, as things stand, another competitive performance and yet another narrow defeat on Saturday would constitute a praiseworthy afternoon's work.

It doesn't help that the Irish squad appear to be carrying more knocks than is usually the case. Four of the eight players vying for a place on the seven-man replacements' bench are carrying injuries, namely Ross Nesdale (ankle), Peter Clohessy (chest infection), Nick Popplewell (hamstring strain) and number eight Eric Miller (hamstring strain). Lock Paddy Johns also has a calf strain.

"I wouldn't say I'm fully confident, because you never know with injuries. But I'd be reasonably optimistic," said Whelan. Nesdale, who has replaced Keith Wood in the last two Five Nations' outings, is the most pressing concern of the several players who took little or no part in yesterday's session. "I would say Rosco could have a problem," admitted Whelan.

Hence, Northampton's Allen Clarke has been called into the Ireland squad.

Meanwhile, Ballymena's Gary Longwell has cried off the Ireland A team to play England A at Richmond on Friday. He will be replaced by Bath's Brian Cusack, whose place on the bench is taken by Shane Leahy (Garryowen). Leahy will be joined among the replacements by Shannon's Anthony Foley, who takes over from Eddie Halvey.

Alan McGowan has been called up to the A team replacements' bench as well, in light of Barry Everitt's promotion to the out-half berth. Dion O'Cuinnegan, the South Africa-born hooker, has been asked to attend the squad sessions in Limerick, as have Justin Fitzpatrick and Gabriel Fulcher.

The so-called "goodwill fax line" which was opened at Gatland's behest so that Irish supporters could forward supportive messages to the squad remains open. The number is (01) 661 2148.