Lyon promises Aussies will play hard

Australia manager Gary Lyon has promised his players will play hard and tackle even harder in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series against Ireland in Croke Park.

The first test takes place on Sunday, with the second a week later. Lyon - in charge for his fourth and last series - and his charges arrived in Dublin at 9am yesterday following a long-haul 27-hour journey from Melbourne.

The squad trained yesterday ahead of today's warm-up match against a Dublin selection at Parnell Park.

The game, a fundraiser for the Dublin Cumann na mBunscoil, had been arranged for tomorrow, but will now take place at 2pm today.

The Dublin side will field inter-county stars Paddy Christie, Coman Goggins, Shane Ryan and Peadar Andrews, and are managed by former Kerry U21 Liam O'Connor, along with Diarmuid Murphy and James O'Sullivan.

Family tickets (€10) are available and cash will be taken at the stiles with a single adult ticket for €8.

Meanwhile, Sunday's first test in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia will begin at 2.10pm.

The game has the early start due to the time difference between Ireland and Australia. The game is being televised live in Australia, on Channel 9, one of the country's main television networks.

Aussie boss presents a daily programme on the channel and said there was "enormous interest" in the game in Australia.