Irish manager Joe Kernan has confirmed that Darren Hughes and Ciarán Sheehan have been invited to train with the squad this week following the injury to Pearse Hanley and illness to  a number of other players.

Hughes has travelled to Perth to join the rest of the panel and Australia-based Sheehan has travelled from Melbourne as the Irish team management look to bolster numbers and ensure a full squad for Saturday’s second assignment.

Ciaran Sheehan joined the squad in Mandurah today, while Hughes will link up with them in Perth tomorrow around noon local time. 

Niall Murphy and Enda Smith missed last weekend’s opening fixture due to illness and a call on their possible involvement will be made in the coming days.

Kernan said: “Darren is ideally suited to this game and trained with us before Scotstown’s run cut across his possible involvement.

“We have invited Ciarán up from Melbourne to train with the panel too and given his insights to their game I am sure he will add something to our preparations and range of options.”

Kernan also confirmed that Murphy and Smith will train today with a call being made on their involvement in the next 48 hours.

There were no other serious injury concerns in the camp before the return to the Domain Stadium in Subiaco – for what will be the last fixture at the stadium before hometown clubs Freemantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles move to a new purpose built 60,000 arena in the city.

AFL chiefs are hoping for a bigger attendance that last week’s 25,000 turn out.