Shaun Pollock is only player left that faced Ireland in 1998

Molins scored an unbeaten 101 the last time the two teams met four years ago although the Springboks won by 63 runs.

The Irish skipper, now opening the innings, is in a hot spell at present.

He hit three figures in leading his side to a shock 10-wicket victory in the first of two One Day Internationals against Zimbabwe last week.

Zimbabwe did gain revenge in the second game with an eight-wicket victory two days later, and Ireland know that they will have to take a massive step up in confronting South Africa at Castle Avenue.

Only Shaun Pollock remains from the touring side that visited Dublin back in 1998, and the all-rounder will be a key element in the Springboks side.

Ireland, coached by South African Ali Birrell, will be buoyed by victory over a Test nation, even though they did suffer a big backlash.

It was good experience for the boys batting against Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut Ireland coach Adi Birrell

''If we are going to be playing the next World Cup, or even in big games at the ICC Trophy, we will have to play against good bowling first up,'' said Birrell, who parades an unchanged side.

''There is a lot of pressure batting first, especially with the ball moving around.

''It was good experience for the boys batting against Heath Streak and Andy Blignaut.''

South Africa are expected to turn out a strong side with only Jacques Kallis and Nicky Bowe missing.

Likely starters are Boeta Dippenaar and Jacques Rudolph who cracked an unbeaten 429 third-wicket partnership in the First Test against Bangladesh two months again.

Ireland: J A M Molins (Capt), J P Bray, A C Botha N J O'Brien (Wkt), P G Gillespie, W K McCallan, D Joyce, A R White P J K Mooney, C M Armstrong, G J Neely.

South Africa: G C Smith (Capt), H H Gibbs, H H Dippenaar J A Rudolph, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, C K Langeveldt M van Jaarsveld, A C Dawson, P R Adams, M Ntini.