Kevin McKernan says Ireland will need to "iron out any issues" they may have in this weekend's warm-up match for Saturday week's International Rules test against Australia.

The Irish, who flew out to Australia today, will face a VFL selection in the Trevor Barker Beach Oval in Melbourne on Sunday knowing it will be their final opportunity to get things right before the single test match in Perth.

"We have been talking about it and it is going to be do-or-die, we have one warm-up match, so there is a big emphasis put on the warm-up game so we can iron out any issues and be prepared for the one and only test in Perth," McKernan told the Newry Democrat.

"I am looking forward to the trip, it will be a great atmosphere and I have been training over this past five or six weekends and it has been pretty intense in training too so to secure a place is pretty sweet."

The Down star also sees the test as an opportunity to finish the year on a high after his club Burren lost their second consecutive county final to Kilcoo a few weeks ago.

"It would have been nice to have won a county championship with my club and I suppose this will be some sort of consolation," he added.

"It is nice to get involved and play as a unit and bar the Railway Cup, it is the only way for a player to have representative honours and it is nice for myself, the club and the family as well."

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