IRELAND captain Bernard Brogan has admitted he has little interest in putting on a 'spectacle' for the home crowd if they ultimately fail to wrestle back control of the Cormac McAnallen Cup.
Rather, the Dublin attacker and three-time All-Ireland medallist wants the hosts to meet Australia's anticipated power and purpose head on and be prepared to go to war at Croke Park.
The vastly experienced AllStar said that if he had to sum up Ireland's task it would be to avoid being dominated by Australia's big tackling.
In practice, that means thinking quickly and effectively, both in terms of accurate kick passing and also players creating enough space to accept the ball without being immediately under pressure.
"The big challenge for us is the tackle," said Brogan. "The intensity that the Australian lads bring is huge. Looking back at last year's test, the first two quarters we were blown out of the water by the intensity that they brought so that's something we're going to have to try and match.
"We're going to go at it and we're going to go out there to win. We're not going in to put on a spectacle, we obviously want to have a great game, but we're going in to go hard at it, like the Australians will, and to give it a really good lash.
"We've full belief in ourselves, we wouldn't be doing it if we didn't think we were going to win. We're amateur athletes but we always say and believe that we're professional athletes in everything we do.
"So we want to pit ourselves against the best in the world in sport and see where we're at. We definitely wouldn't be coming back to Croke Park if we thought we were just going to make up the numbers. And Joe Kernan wouldn't have put the time in that he has over the last 12 weeks.
"So we're hugely looking forward to it. It's going to be a massive challenge as we know because they're such an amazing side. But that's what football is about and in a one-day test, anything can happen.
"The bottom line, again, is that it's about intensity, whoever comes out with the most intensity and energy and ball possession will have a lot to say in the game."
Australia's 22-man panel is comprised of players who have won an All Australian award at some stage of their career. Ireland's group has nine current AllStars and Brogan agreed with the suggestion that it might be a good idea in future to replicate the Australian model by picking only present or past AllStars.
"I'd say nearly all the Irish lads have AllStars from other years anyway but I do think it is a nice idea because it shows a commitment from your sport that you're putting out the right men, the top brass, to compete, to represent your country," said former Footballer of the Year Brogan.
"As players, it also gives an extra incentive that if you can get an AllStar then you've an opportunity to play for Ireland."
Brogan said he would favour a future test being played in New York, a topic that was discussed yesterday in a meeting of AFL and GAA officials.
Australia coach Alastair Clarkson is a strong advocate of a New York test and Brogan agreed.
"Like Alastair said, there are a massive amount of Irish on the east coast of America and this weekend Dublin and Galway are playing in Fenway Park in an adaption of hurling, with 30,000 odd at it," said Brogan.
"It shows the appetite that's there and if that's the case then we'd love to go and showcase our games.
"Aogan O Fearghail and his team are very open to travelling abroad."
Brogan said he personally loves the 'mark' rule in International Rules and wouldn't be against it being fully replicated in Gaelic football. The GAA will reportedly trial a limited version of the mark in the Sigerson Cup next year, for kick-outs that cross the 45-metre line.
"We all love watching the AFL and the big high catches, the knee up over the shoulder, and our game has gone away from that a bit, the high fielding," said Brogan.
"I think it's a great rule. It creates a lot of opportunities, creates a lot of scoring opportunities as well as pace and energy in the game. Obviously it's being tested in the college games and it'll be interesting to see how it goes."
Ireland v Australia in numbers
(1998-2014)
Last five series
Australia 56 Ireland 46
Ireland 173 Australia 72
Australia 65 Ireland 130
Ireland 92 Australia 102
Australia 97 Ireland 102
Overall record
Series won Tests won Points scored
Ireland 9 20 2,212
Australia 9 17 2,069
(Two draws: Second Test 1999; Second Test 2002)
Records
Biggest series win
101 points: Ireland 173 Australia 72 (2013)
Biggest test win
79 points: Ireland 116 Australia 37
(Second Test 2013)
Closest series
5 points: Australia 97 Ireland 102 (2008)
Highest-scoring test
164 points: Australia 100 Ireland 64
(First Test 2005)
Lowest-scoring test
84 points Ireland 42 Australia 42
(Second Test 2002)
Highest attendance
82,127: Second Test, Croke Park, 2006
Lowest attendance
12,545: Second Test, Metricon Stadium, 2011
Average attendance (1998–2014): 42,898
Record point-scorer
118: Steven McDonnell (Ireland)
