While not a big fan of the 'underdog' tag, Ireland manager Sean Boylan insists his team of amateurs are up against it in the upcoming international rules series.

Boylan said Australia's band of professional athletes, who have won the past two series, possessed superior skills to go with their physical might.

The teams square off at Subiaco Oval on Friday night and Boylan said his charges would be looking to break even with the Australians in Perth before upping the tempo in Melbourne a week later.

"The last time, even though things happened (in terms of on-field violence) that maybe shouldn't have happened, you couldn't for a moment take away the skill factor the Aussies had," Boylan said.

"They were so good at using the ball, their passing, their speedwork and their shooting was top drawer and I'm hoping we can learn something from them to bring back to our own game as well.

"We were good enough down in Galway (to win 48-40) and for a while in Dublin (we were competitive) as well but we weren't able to sustain it.

"That's the reality, you are talking about amateur players against professional players.

"Naturally when you are playing people with the expertise that these lads have it's going to be difficult but that's the challenge and that's what you relish.

"I know we have plenty of skill, I know we have plenty of good footballers and they'll match the Australians in many ways and I just hope we are good enough to break even in this part and have a right good go at them in Melbourne."

Ireland's Tom Parsons, who at just 20 years of age is the youngest member of the squad, admitted Australia's tackling experience would give the home side a huge edge.

"Our tackling won't be near as physical as Australia's," said the civil engineering student.

"Some of us find it tough to get our heads around it and we might take a tackle and complain that it's a free but it's not, we just have to get up and get on with it."

Kieran Donaghy, who at 195cm is one of the tallest players in the side, said it was the responsibility of both sides to ensure for a fair game.

"Look there's no problem with being physical," Donaghy said.

"It's the fighting and the off the ball stuff that you don't like to see and hopefully we make sure that doesn't happen and we just play football.

"We've got to make sure what happened two years ago doesn't happen again, and that's up to us as well as the Aussies."

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