The Ireland Rugby League side will face the first of two Pacific teams in their World Cup pool tonight in Parammatta.
The Wolfhounds will play Tonga, and their hopes of a win has been boosted with the fact that a decision on the eligibility of star duo Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaka is still before the courts.
That decision will be decided in the New South Wales Supreme court today, but even if they are cleared it's unlikely they will take the field.
Meanwhile, Irish coach Andy Kelly says they know how strong Tonga and Samoa can be and have prepared to counter their strengths
"We're looking foward to it . You know of the three teams there's a formidable look about this group, and it's a challenge that we've known about from the moment the chemistry of the groups was put together so we're ready for it. We've had time to prepare and we're ready for it, we know the quality of the playing staff in the two Samoan and Tongan squads we're ready to take that on."
