The National Open indoor championships at Riverview, an event monopolised by Owen Casey and Scott Barron over the past decade, has been given a welcome edge now the star Irish duo will not be involved when the event gets under way on Wednesday.

Ireland's Davis Cup players Peter Clarke and John Doran are two of the prime contenders who will not be regretting Barron's attempt to qualify for the Australian Open nor Casey's decision to stick to his promise to opt out for family reasons.

Clarke and Doran, both full-timers on the professional circuits, head the record entries for all events. Neither player can feel over-confident with Conor Niland and Stephen Nugent threatening from the number three and four seeded spots. Limerick's George McGill, at five, does not seem to be out of the reckoning either. Nick Malone, Stephen Taylor and Neil Fagan will doubtless be of the same frame of mind.

Since graduating from Harvard, Doran's game has improved in leaps and bounds, so much so that his win in the ITF Futures event in Indiana came as no surprise. Jason Hazley, a cousin of the former Dublin footballer, Ray, is among the overseas entries. The teenager is here on holiday with his father from the US and is believed to be a player of promise.

In the women's event, it is a case of Yvonne Doyle stepping in and Kelly Liggan and Karen Nugent stepping out. Liggan, like Barron, has designs on making the Australian Open and the absence of the highest-ranked Irish player lightens the load for Doyle and holder Elsa O Riain. Anne Marie Hogan, beaten by O Riain in last year's decider, is seeded three with Gina Niland at four. Unseeded Cork woman Emma Murphy is also expected to raise a worthwhile challenge.