The Irish management will select a squad of no more than 28, to be announced on Monday, after viewing the Ulster and Connacht European games this weekend. From this the squad of 22 to 24 for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Romania will be finalised at the conclusion of a get-together from November 2nd-4th in Cork.
After the first three-day session of the season last month involving 47 players, this trimmed-down version will come together in Finnstown House tomorrow week for another three-day get-together. As the Irish management have witnessed nine weeks of competitive action from the Irish provinces while only making one visit to an English Premiership match, it seems safe to presume that the trend toward home-based players is likely to continue.
The outstanding exception is likely to be at full-back, where Conor O'Shea's prolific form for London Irish has assuredly seen him nail down the position for the opening three internationals. He was the only player regularly playing at full-back to be selected in the original squad.
Hence, one or both of Girvan Dempsey and the highly regarded Gordon D'Arcy may again make it. Certainly, Dempsey's near exemplary form on the wing for Leinster should see his inclusion.
This could leave room for three other wingers, with Justin Bishop heading the queue. With Richard Wallace due to make his seasonal debut for Saracens this weekend, Denis Hickie out of favour at Leinster, where the recalled John McWeeney had an unhappy start to the season, and James Topping sidelined, this could leave the way open for Daragh O'Mahony or Niall Woods.
Both have been in prolific form, each scoring four tries for their clubs, with Woods accumulating 96 points in six games.
O'Mahony, who scored 17 tries in 20 games for Moseley last season, has maintained his strike rate in the higher flight with Bedford and has again vented his frustration.
"They have chosen a squad of 47 players. But I challenge them to show that all 47 can survive in this division week in, week out. I don't think that they all could. I am disappointed not to be included and I have had no contact with Ireland since I came to Bedford. But I am not bitter and completely accept the repercussions of choosing to play in England and being outside the Irish structure."
That said, he may be in for a pleasant surprise.
With the versatile Kevin Maggs, Jonathan Bell and Rob Henderson seemingly the front-runners in midfield given Mark McCall's absence, this may only leave one place for the emerging crop of home-based centres - Shane Horgan, Pat Duignan, Killian Keane and Mervyn Murphy. Horgan's all-round consistency and potential makes him the favourite.
Eric Elwood, despite his knee injury, and David Humphreys look the only viable options at out-half. Ditto Conor McGuinness and Derek Hegarty at scrumhalf, given the injuries to Brian O'Meara and Tom Tierney.
Whether Reggie Corrigan has had enough match practice to earn a recall must be in doubt, although Justin Fitzpatrick hasn't been exceptional, while the Leinster pair of Emmet Byrne and Angus McKeen have done more than John Hayes.
Jeremy Davidson, due to make his full debut for Castres this weekend, will surely be asked along in some shape or form, which might mean exclusion for either Mick Galwey or Gabriel Fulcher. Of the many Munster back-row players, Alan Quinlan, excluded from the 10 back-row men in the original squad of 47, has probably been in the best form, so it could just be that they will all miss out.
Malone enjoyed a notable coup with the announcement that former New Zealand captain Paul Henderson has been appointed as player-coach. Henderson is currently playing for the Gauteng Falcons in South Africa but will link up with the Belfast club on November 1st.
The 32-year-old won 24 caps for the All Blacks in a career blighted by injury.
Possible Irish Squad: O'Shea, Dempsey, Bishop, O'Mahony, Maggs, Bell, Henderson, Horgan, Elwood, Hum phreys, McGuinness, Hegarty, Corrigan, Fitzpatrick, Clohessy, P Wallace, Wood, Nesdale, O'Kelly, Johns, Davidson, Galwey, Costello, Miller, O'Cuinneagain, Ward, Brennan, Dawson.
