The long wait is almost over and Ireland, finally, get the chance to make it two wins out of two when they face the United Arab Emirates at the Gabba in Brisbane tomorrow (3.30am GMT, live on Sky Sports World Cup).

It has been eight days since the victory over West Indies and Ireland have had to endure the tail-end of a cyclone and two indoor training sessions. But captain William Porterfield insists the squad is re-focused and ready for what he describes as a must-win game.

"The last few days have been like being back home - watching a lot of rain - and it's been unfortunate for local residents. When there is a cyclone passing through, cricket takes second place but for ourselves we're looking forward to getting outside again. We've had a couple of good days indoors in the National Centre of Excellence and we'll be ready for the game on Wednesday," said Porterfield.

The skipper acknowledges that the opening-game success had put extra pressure on the team to follow up with another win but it is no more than the pressure they put on themselves to beat West Indies.

"UAE are the one team we are ranked above and while it brings more expectation from outside, we expect that from ourselves anyway, that professionalism, and it's no different from before the West Indies game," he said.

"The attitude shown indoors was superb and to get back outside is great. As much as it was a long break it has been a good break and a chance to freshen up, because the games are going to come thick and fast after the South Africa game (next Tuesday)."

For now, though, Porterfield is looking no further than tomorrow's clash because he knows the win against West Indies will count for nothing if Ireland don't continue their impressive record against UAE - a 13-game unbeaten run stretching back to 2005.

"It's been a couple of years since we played them in a 50-overs competition, qualifying for this competition in Sharjah (when Ireland won by five wickets and six wickets)," added the Ulsterman.

"But they have come on leaps and bounds since then and the way they played against Zimbabwe in their first game (losing by only four wickets after scoring 285-7) they look very organised and if a couple of things had gone their way they could have been even closer to getting something from that game.

"They are playing some great cricket, had a good build-up with a series win against Afghanistan, so we are expecting a fully fired-up side to come out against us and we are going to have to be right at the top of our game."

Selection promises to be another difficult decision with the Gabba favouring fast bowling and the UAE more used to facing spin.

Craig Young, who has consistently taken early wickets during the winter, is the obvious candidate for a World Cup debut but it will be a brave call by Porterfield and coach Phil Simmons to leave out either of the Ireland spin duo, George Dockrell and Andy McBrine, after taking three for 76 in 20 overs in Nelson.

But as Porterfield says: "We made tough calls in Nelson and it will be no different throughout this competition as we move along."

The result is all that matters for Ireland.