The success has been carried off the field too, and Stormont now seems poised to become a regular venue for the stars of world cricket. The game that was the most popular in the country before the foundation of the GAA may be set for a revival.

The Irish people respect nothing more than international success, and should the side claim a scalp or two in Jamaica then the ICU may lick their lips. But is it realistic to expect a mostly amateur side to beat full-time, seasoned professionals?

The draw couldn't have been kinder to Ireland. Zimbabwe have been poor since their cricket board was taken over by a Robert Mugabe clique and almost all their best players quit. They still have plenty of talent, notably offspinner Prosper Utseya, quickie Anthony Ireland (oh, the irony) and batsman Se�n (ditto) Williams.

Pakistan are deeply enigmatic at the moment - their strike force of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif have dropped out at the last minute due to diplomatic injuries that save them from facing targeted drug tests during the competition. They have also lost all-rounder Abdul Razzaq but, in Mohammed Yousuf, have arguably the best batsman in the world.

The West Indies are the West Ham of world cricket - buckets of flair but liable to fall apart at the slightest setback.

No host has ever won the World Cup (except when Sri Lanka staged a few group games in 1996 and went on to win it) and the pressure of being at home might be destabilising for the Windies.

Conditions could prove crucial, and one theory has it that they will suit Ireland's attack.

"We expect the pitches to be slow and low, " says Birrell.

The small grounds and hard, abrasive outfields usually mean run feasts, but Sabina has been relaid and no-one is quite sure how it will pay. Ireland's bowling attack, heavily criticised after the World League in Kenya, have come back with a bang in their last four innings, dismissing their opponents for 243, 118, 192 and 115. Johnston and David Langford-Smith seem back to their best, while the excellent performance of Boyd Rankin against Canada (he took 10-326-1) might encourage a change of plan for the first group game. His extra pace might be just what could discomfort Zimbabwe.

McCallan and White will take the pace off the ball in the middle overs while Andre Botha's mix of swing and slower balls is a potent force in the latter stages.

The two warm-up games in Trinidad last week could have hardly gone better, and Paddy Power have slashed the odds on Ireland winning a game to 6/5.

As for the big picture, the competition's elongated structure means teams can go in and out of form from now till the final on 28 April.

Australia's recent woes might seem like ancient history by then. All the big teams are flawed but it's impossible to see anyone being complete enough to deny Ponting & Co. Unless, of course, Ed Joyce - who made three 50s in his only three 'A' ODIs in the Caribbean - makes the impact that Irish fans know he can. He has already made two centuries for Ireland in the qualifying rounds for this World Cup - and could yet come up against his former teammates in the Super Eight round.

That may be too much to dream for, but it's certainly how this Irish team are thinking. They are as well-prepared for this as any of the professional sides, having been in full-time training since Christmas. Birrell's scientific training and analysis methods means they fear noone and carry onto Sabina Park the self-belief that they can slay giants.