Ireland's Kenneth Carroll (left) loses his hat while taking a pass from teammate Kevin O'Brien as they play rugby during a training session in Georgetown yesterday. Ireland will meet England in their first Super Eights match today. - Reuters

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP):

ENGLAND CAPTAIN Michael Vaughan expects the Irish to be plucky, well drilled and to work as a tight unit. What he aims to exploit is something the Irish do not have: experience in high-pressure, international cricket.

"First and foremost we respect the Irish - they're in the Super Eights because they played good cricket," Vaughan said ahead of today's match at Guyana's new Providence ground, now known as the National Stadium. "We've prepared in the same fashion as we would have done against Australia or South Africa. But if we play to our best, we should win it."

Three-time losing finalists England advanced beyond the first round at a World Cup for the first time since 1996 by placing second in Group C behind New Zealand.

Capable of upsets

Ireland caused one of the biggest upsets in cricket history with a win over Pakistan in the group stage which put the 1992 champions out of the tournament.

That was wedged between the thrilling last-ball tie with Zimbabwe in their debut World Cup match and a lopsided loss to the West Indies.

Ireland captain Trent Johnston missed the West Indies match in Jamaica, but has overcome a shoulder problem and expects to be fit to take on England.

Johnston said Ireland did not approach the match expecting to win against every Test-ranked team, but was capable of pulling more upsets. He said suggestions that his team had no right to be in the Super Eights "adds fuel to the fire".

Other countries "were probably banking on two points against Ireland. That's not a bad thing," he said. "Maybe they will be a bit lax in their preparation on game day, or rest a player. That's the incentive we need.

"We may be able to spring an upset out here like we did against Pakistan. That's what we're about - we go out there and have a good fight and see what happens."

Line-ups

England (likely): Michael Vaughan (captain), Ed Joyce, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara/Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Jimmy Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar.

Ireland (likely): Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Eoin Morgan, Niall O'Brien, Andre Botha, Kevin O'Brien, Andrew White, Kyle McCallan, Trent Johnston (captain), David Langford-Smith, Boyd Rankin.