Batsman Ed Joyce is upbeat on Ireland's chances of putting in a good showing at the upcoming Cricket World Cup and making it through the initial group stage and into the knockout rounds.

Ireland had a confidence boosting tri-series win in Dubai earlier this week and Joyce said the mood in the camp is very positive ahead of next month's World Cup, when Ireland start their six-game campaign against the West Indies in New Zealand on 16 February.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Joyce said: “The feeling is good, I'm quite optimistic about our chances.

“We performed pretty well out in the UAE, but the batting probably wasn't up to the standard we needed to be making the World Cup quarter finals and beyond, but the bowling was actually quite good

“People were expecting it to be the other way round so I think we'd prefer it way that we know our batting can improve, so we're optimistic.”

Ireland's bowling options, however, have been curtailed ahead for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand as Phil Simmons' charges will be minus veteran Trent Johnston (retired) and Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh (foot injury), with Max Sorensen coming in for Murtagh who was only ruled out of the last weekend.

“Trent is certainly a big loss from the last few years. He's been a titan of Irish cricket for a long time and performed well at every level of the game, not just against teams of our level but also top teams in the world so he's obviously a big loss,” said Joyce.

“Tim's a top quality bowler on wickets he can get a bit out off. He's a brilliant performer when the wicket's flat and the bowling is pacey.

“I think he'll be a loss on and off the field with his experience and expertise.

“Max has come in and he's a different type of cricketer. He bowls a bit quicker and his fielding and batting is probably a lot better than Murts - he'll probably won't like me saying that but I think he's is a different type of cricketer.

“But I don't think we'll lose much squad-wise, maybe we'll lose out a bit on the control Tim could bring to the wicket.”

Ireland's World Cup campaign will involve playing six games in Group B against West Indies, UAE, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan.

Joyce said the team's target is to net three wins and that should see captain Ian Porterfield and his charges make the quarter-finals - with top four from each of Group A and B going through to the last-eight.

First up are the West Indies, who have been in some disorder recently which was highlighted this week by South Africa taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in their ODI series.

“The West Indies are in a bit of disarray, but that can be a bit like a wounded animal. They are the first game but we need to start tournament well whoever we play.

"The opening two games are West Indies and UAE so if we can win two out of two, then you never know for the rest of the tournament" - Ed Joyce

“It probably is a bonus to meet them first. The opening two games are West Indies and UAE so if we can win two out of two, then you never know for the rest of the tournament.

“The likelihood is we'll certainly need to win three games to progress. We're certainly targeting those first two and Zimbabwe, that's the obvious one we'd be targeting as well.

“Pakistan, South Africa and India are going to be hard work.

“We know we've got to win three games so if it doesn't go well in the first game we know we can turn it round.”

Joyce will be competing in his third World Cup having played at the 2007 World Cup with England and 2011 with Ireland, and the Bray native feels the current crop of Ireland's bowlers will be taking a step into the unknown this time.

“Our batting should be pretty well known but a lot of our bowlers are very young. There's more of a youth element which is great in one way and obviously on the other it is entering the unknown in how we're going to go out on the world stage.

“But I think the squad is shaping up nicely and with young lads coming in the age profile of the team is a little bit better than it has been in the last few years.

“We're probably under cooked a little bit experience-wise with the bowling but they were the ones who did a good job for us out in the UAE recently.

“So I'm hopeful that experience will stand for us well but I do think we'll need to get between 250 and 300 with the bat.”

As for Joyce himself, he is “hugely looking forward to it and can't wait” for what will probably be his big tournament swansong.

“I'm 36 now so I'm the old man of the squad now that Trent's gone. These big tournaments make you feel young again.

“I can't see myself playing in the next one, so this could be the last one.”