Max Jones took up his job in Ireland 15 months ago

Ireland's director of coaching Max Jones believes that the nation is well-placed to have several finalists at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Jones rates a dozen of the Irish track and field team as world class athletes and he says that walker Robert Heffernan is the best medal hope.

"I feel he (Heffernan) might just be an outside bet for a medal," said Jones.

Sprinter Paul Hession and 400m runner David Gillick are among the other Irish athletes who will compete in China.

Since Ronnie Delaney's 1,500metre success at the Melbourne Games of 1956, the only Irish track and field medals have been the silvers from John Treacy (1984 marathon) and Sonia O'Sullivan (2000 5,000m).

It is that background which makes Jones extremely cautious about predicting a medal tally.

Paul Hession is going ever so well and remember last year he wasn't that far away from making the worlds' final in Osaka Max Jones

"The standard of competition which we witnessed at last summer's World Championships will be even more fierce," added Jones.

"Just for anyone to make a final will be an outstanding achievement given the opposition they will be up against - but once you are in it anything can happen."

20K walker Heffernan finished sixth in last year's world championships and Jones described him a a "world class performer".

This season Heffernan finished ninth at the World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary in May but he sliced 53 seconds from his Irish record with a time of one hour 19 mins 22 secs and he is said to have impressed in training recently.

Jones says Hession has the ability to make the 200m final and recent form suggests that the Galway man is peaking towards bettering the Irish record of 20.30 which he set last year.

"He's going ever so well and remember last year he wasn't that far away from making the worlds' final in Osaka," added Jones.

Hession has definitely benefited from working under the direction of Scottish coach Stuart Hogg, while Paul Doyle - who also manages former world 100m record holder Asafa Powell - has opened the door to some big meetings.

David Gillick sits at the top of the European 400m rankings after recently improving his Irish record to 45.12 and he will have genuine ambitions of making the Beijing final - even though he is only 17th in this year's world ratings.

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Hammer thrower Eileen O'Keeffe finished sixth in last year's world championships while Roisin McGettigan and Fionnuala Britton will be hoping to match their achievement of making the 3000m steeplechase final in Osaka.

Jones is hoping that injury-plagued Derval O'Rourke can regain the form which saw her claim both the World Indoor 60m hurdles gold and European Championship silver in 2006.

"She's slowly getting back to some decent form and is a great competitor, but again it is a very tough event."

Joanne Cuddihy, who set an Irish 400m record of 50.73 in Osaka last year, is is in a race against the clock to get herself to Beijing.

"If fully fit I have no doubt she could make the final and push 50seconds which is what will be required," added Jones.

"But she's got back and knee problems."