THE Ireland women's tennis team have been plagued with injuries in the run up to next week's Federation Cup group match in Israel. So, at Ramat Hashoran, the Israel Tennis Centre, they will be asked to get results without competitive preparation.

The Irish number one, Gina Niland, has been out of action for three months with a foot complaint, and Karen Nugent has lost her battle to be fit and has had to cry off. Her replacement, schoolgirl Clair Curran, has been out of action for over a month following an operation for tonsillitis. Fortunately, the Dublin based, world ranked junior from Belfast can get time off to play in her Leaving Certificate year.

The round robin format means that the Irish team could be obliged to play on six consecutive days. The team manager, Peter Lowther, said: "It will have to be a real team effort in the full meaning of the term."

Lowther is impressed by Lesley O'Halloran's current form. The fourth team member is the US based, full time player Phillipa Palmer.

Meanwhile, French star Thierry Champion was at the Riverview Club in Dublin for training with Francis Rawstorne last week. He observed: "I was in the club for only five days and I saw quite a number of youngsters playing the type of game that one sees on the international circuits. But, as we all know, that's only the beginning.

The closing date for entries for the Dublin Business Houses Leagues is March 25th. Competition begins on April 15th. The East Cork Heineken Open championships are scheduled for the Lower Aghada club this weekend, starting on Friday with finals on Monday.