Ireland are attempting to overturn the odds and bring Ashes winners England crashing down to earth.
England face Ireland in a 50-over contest at Stormont ahead of two Twenty20 internationals in Manchester and a seven-match NatWest Series against Australia.
England rested Ashes heroes Stuart Broad and James Anderson and also left former Ireland batsman Eoin Morgan out for the RSA one-day international in Belfast.
Kent opener Joe Denly won his first international cap and Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid and Jonathan Trott also made their one-day international debuts.
Former captain Trent Johnston made his 100th appearance for Ireland, who were asked to bowl first by England stand-in captain Paul Collingwood.
England are without injured stars Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, as well as captain Andrew Strauss but that will only act to even things up a bit for the hosts.
Irish cricket has lost Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan in recent years - the latter is in England's 14-man squad for this contest.
This has arguably reduced Ireland's threat against major nations.
Stand-in England captain Paul Collingwood said: "It is up to the individuals, the choices they make, in terms of their futures in international cricket.
"They are two exceptionally good players and they have made the choice to play for England.
"Certainly since they made that choice they have done well enough to force their way into that England side."
He added: "Irish cricket is progressing all the time - it is a tough position to be in losing your top players but that is a choice an individual has got to make."
Ireland coach Phil Simmons believes Stuart Broad, England's premier youngster, should be allowed to develop his own style rather than seek to become the new Andrew Flintoff.
"They are very, very big shoes to try to put him in at this stage in his career," Simmons, a former West Indies all-rounder, said.
"It is the same thing that happened when Ian Botham finished and it took a long while before someone filled them. I wouldn't want to cast him in those shoes yet."
Simmons, now in his third year in charge of Ireland, also put immediate distance between his name and the vacant West Indies coach's position.
"At some point in time we are all interested in going back home," said Trinidadian Simmons.
"If you say you don't want to coach your home team you would be lying - but right now I am happy where I am."
© Press Association