The relatively new-looking Australian cricket team under the leadership of Steve Smith faces Ireland in the one-off ODI at Stormont in Belfast on Thursday. Australia have a good blend of youth and experience in their team to take on Ireland, who have been playing with a similar unit of players for some time.
Australia's batting looks solid with David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith providing them experience and stability. They look even more formidable in bowling, as Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile can run through the Irish batting line up easily.
But these Australian players will need time to adjust to the fifty over format for they have not played in the format after winning the 2015 ICC World Cup in March this year. With new players such as Joe Burns, Ashton Agar, Marcus Stoinis, the Australians are undergoing some changes as well.
Australia skipper Steve Smith, who believes it is a new era for Australian cricket, wants to play an aggressive brand of cricket, which has helped them become a major force in world cricket.
"I guess it's a new era in a way for Australian cricket," Sky Sports quoted Smith as saying.
"We've got some experienced players around and we've got some young guys around as well, I think we've got a good mix together.
"We've got to continue playing the aggressive brand of cricket that we've done so well and continue to improve.
"We've got to continue to raise the bar, we're number one in the world, but everyone's going to be after us so we're going to have to keep improving to stay in that spot."
Australia cannot afford to take Ireland lightly as the hosts have some quality players in their line up, which includes captain William Potterfield , Ed Joyce, Niall O'Brien and Paul Stirling, among others.
Ireland might have failed to progress to the quarter-finals of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, but they played some good cricket to register three victories in the competition, which also includes their huge victory over Test playing nation West Indies.
Porterfield and his team cannot wait for the match to begin.
"We've beaten Test nations on our home soil but it doesn't come any bigger than the world champions and if you could put that scalp on Ireland's CV then that would be great," said Porterfield.
"All the lads are excited and can't wait to get out there."
Where to Watch Live
Australia vs Ireland ODI Match has been scheduled for 10:45am local time (3:15pm IST, 7:45pm AEST) start. Viewers in India can watch the ODI live on Sony Six.
Viewers in Australia can watch the Australia vs Ireland ODI on Fox Sports with an option of watching it online on Foxtel Play.
