Ireland are adamant their World Cup hopes have been written off prematurely with the Wolfhounds desperate to prove they won't be the tournament whipping boys by upsetting Tonga on Monday night.

The Wolfhounds are at long odds to beat the Pacific island outfit at Parramatta Stadium. However their hopes have been boosted by Tonga's tumultuous build-up to the match with their fight to have star duo Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki cleared to play still before the courts.

A decision on their eligibility will be handed down by the NSW Supreme Court at 9:30am (AEDT) Monday morning. But even if the pair are cleared, they are unlikely to take the field against the Irish.

Even without Moimoi and Tuiaki the Tongans will send out a powerful line-up boasting the likes of Parramatta five-eighth Feleti Mateo and Sydney Roosters prop Lopini Paea, though Irish skipper Scott Grix said his side was ready to shake up the tournament with an early upset.

"We're over it a bit," Grix said of his side's criticism.

"We got a bit of stick before we came out here with people writing us off back home and then we get here and no-one's really concentrating on the rugby, they're more interested in a bloke called Wayne Kerr.

"It's a bit of fun and he (Kerr) doesn't mind it but as a team we'd rather talk about what we can do on the pitch."

The unfortunately named Kerr and Ged Corcoran were cut from the final 17 by coach Andy Kelly, with the Irish to field a side with smattering of players who should be familiar to local audiences including former Wests Tigers winger Pat Richards and ex-St George Illawarra prop Ryan Tandy.

Kelly said the side had been training hard since arriving in Sydney early last week, and claimed the squad had not been given the respect it deserved.

"But I think that will only serve to spur the guys on," Kelly said.

"As I've said from day one, we're not here to clown around, we're here to perform and our aim is to make it through to the final four.

"Tonga and Samoa are both big physical sides, but to reach the semi-finals they'll have to beat us.

"There'll be a big green wall there waiting for them. We think we've got the players and the game plan to beat both those sides."

Ireland's forwards will have the biggest job on their hands with every member of the Tongan pack having had NRL experience, skipper Paea joined by Antonio Kaufusi, Tevita Latu, Awen Guttenbeil, Richard Fa'aoso and Willie Manu, while Souths backrower Manase Manuokafoa and Warriors forward Epalahame Lauaki will come off the bench.

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