Ireland's bid to recapture the glory days of two years ago begins in Willowmoore Park, Benoni on Wednesday. The "ICC World Cup Qualifier", the former ICC Trophy takes place in the Gauteng region of South Africa and this time only the top four will qualify for 2011.
This is the one major associates tournament that Ireland have yet to win and the squad are confident that they will rectify this in Centurion Park on 19 April. "There is a great spirit within the side", Niall O'Brien told Inside Edge. "We have the best side on paper and if we play anywhere near where we can then we should qualify for the sub-continent in 2011".
There are 12 teams competing, initially divided into two groups. Ireland is in a potentially nasty pool, with most danger coming from old enemy Scotland, who they lead 3-2 in ODI head-to-heads, the always competitive Canada, and a resurgent Namibia who possess a dangerous all rounder in Gerrie Snyman. The Africans have been hit by losing opening bat Stefan Swanepoel and fast bowler Kola Burger due to work commitments.
With the top four qualifying for the Super Eight stage - where they carry preliminary results - every game is vital. Ireland kick off against the Scots, then face the two outsiders back to back. The tiny gulf state of Oman has recruited several Indians and Pakistanis, some of whom have first-class experience. They successfully chased 272 against Namibia in Windhoek last year, when Vaibhav Wategaonkar made a century, so will have to be respected. The Ugandans are often tipped as 'most-likely-to-make-progress' but have always disappointed. Paul Mooney, Adrian McCoubrey and Trent Johnston reduced them to 56-9 in the 2005 event before Frank Nsubaga hit six sixes in a rapid 59. Eoin Morgan and Andrew Poynter both made 50s against them in the U-19 World Cup three years ago, but Jimmy Okello, who made 59 and 46 against Ireland, went missing at a 2007 tournament in Adelaide and was banned for life.
Coach Phil Simmons is just as confident as O'Brien, and refuses to countenance failure. "If you work hard at something, when you go out to the middle, you shouldn't be afraid to try it. You've mastered it during practice, now show it in a real life game situation."
It is an experienced squad, with ten of the 15 Caribbean raiders surviving. "They've all kept themselves fit and maintained their form", says Simmons, "That experience will stand them in good stead come the pressure cooker atmosphere of the qualifiers. The guys will have seen it all before, and be able to carry the load that pressure brings".
Former captain Trent Johnston raised a few eyebrows when he turned up at the winter nets having shed almost a stone from his already spare physique. "I decided that if I pushed myself I could easily play in another World Cup. So I got myself a personal trainer, Dave Cunningham of BeFit in Blackrock, and am fitter now than I've ever been."
There are small doubts about Andre Botha, who had minor surgery earlier this year on the ankle that has troubled him since the World Cup, but he is expected to play in a warm-up game against UAE today.
A key member of the side is sure to be Niall O'Brien, whose 72 against Pakistan brought Ireland her greatest victory in 2007. O'Brien is a passionate cricketer, and his determination to get the most out of his game was showed by his decision to spend part of the winter in Australia.
The day after his county season at Northants ended in September he flew to Africa for Ireland's six week defence of the Intercontinental Cup, with his 135 setting up the victory over Kenya. After a short Christmas break in Lahinch and fitness work in Northampton, he headed to Perth for intensive training with the legendary Neil 'Noddy' Holder, batting coach to Justin Langer among others. The club helped him out a bit but it was essentially O'Brien making a huge investment in his future.
"After last season I could have rested on my laurels but I want to get even better. To make the improvements I want I hired Noddy and we spent a lot of time working in hitting positions, bat swing, balance -- and I found some real improvements in my game."
"He kept things very simple which is the best with batting. I trained most mornings with Noddy and then spent the rest of the day in the gym. I then went for a week to Sydney to work on my keeping with the New South Wales coach Alan Campbell."
England's perennial quest to find a wicketkeeper batsman has continued to amuse watchers of the world game, but O'Brien sees a chance for him to reach the pinnacle. "Not a lot of people understand this in Ireland, but for a professional cricketer the ultimate is to play at test level. I'm no different. That's not to downplay playing for Ireland because everyone that knows me knows about my passion for the baggy green."
O'Brien is already being spoken of as a future England keeper, with Prior, Ambrose and Mustard all showing at various stages this winter that they are not up to the highest level. O'Brien has already started to dream: "To play in an Ashes series would be amazing..."
He has other dreams for the game in Ireland. He is looking to set up the Niall O'Brien Cricket Foundation and an academy to help bring on more Irish players and is looking to sponsors to join him in his quest. At 27, O'Brien has already achieved an enormous amount in the game, and can look forward to a decade more of professional sport. Even in hard times he is a sponsor's dream.