The build-up for next year’s Champions Callenge II tournament and the European Nations Trophy tournament moves up another gear this weekend when Ireland take on Scotland in three games at Banbridge’s Havelock Park.

New coach Paul Revington from South Africa gets his first chance to see his players in action, as he plans ahead for the two tournaments which will ultimately decide whether Ireland can climb the world rankings or stay among the also-rans.

The venue for the inaugural Champions Challenge II has yet to be announced, but the Irish will be facing Japan, Malaysia, France, Russia, Poland, Austria and Chile either in June or July, a series they must win to get promoted into the Champions Challenge I.

Wrexham has already been named as the venue for the European Nations Trophy in early August, and once again the Irish must win to regain elite status in Europe and claim much-needed ranking points, something that is not beyond them considering how they achieved in Rome back in 2005 before dropping back down again after Manchester 2007.

The games against Scotland - on Friday evening (8pm), Saturday afternoon (5pm) and Sunday afternoon (2.30pm) - sees a total of 31 players being used, the third game not earning any caps.

Eleven Ulstermen are in the frame but Mark Gleghorne sits out the action as he continues to recover from injury.

Cookstown teenager David Ames gets his chance to establish himelf, being named for the first two games, while Annadale duo Peter Caruth and Jonny Quigley and Mossley’s Simon Todd get their chance in Sunday’s non-Test game.

There are no Premier fixtures this week but there is a full Senior One programme, the pick being the clash at Stormont where title chasers Civil Service and Antrim meet head-on.

Newry, who beat Queen’s 6-2 in midweek, play their first home game on their new surface when they take on Ballynahinch.

INTERNATIONALS (Havelock Park, Banbridge): Friday: Ireland v Scotland (8pm);

Saturday: Ireland v Scotland (5pm): Sunday: Ireland v Scotland (2.30pm).

IRELAND (tomorrow): David Harte (Pembroke); John Jackson (Loughborough); Joe Brennan (Glenanne); Tim Lewis (Pembroke); Ronan Gormley (Pembroke); Karl Burns (Cork C of I); David Hobbs (Cork C of I); Graham Shaw (Glenanne); John Jermyn (Cork C of I); Mark Black (Cork Harlequins); David Ames (Cookstown); Phelie Maguire (Three Rock); Eugene Magee (Banbridge); Mitch Darling (Three Rock); Timmy Cockram (Lisnagarvey); Michael Watt (Grange).

IRELAND (Saturday): Iain Walker (YMCA); John Jackson (Loughborough); Conor Harte (Pembroke); Tim Lewis (Pembroke); Ronan Gormley (Pembroke); Keith Black (Cookstown); Geoff McCabe (Banbridge); David Hobbs (C of I); Graham Shaw (Glenanne); John Jermyn (Cork C of I); Mark Black (Cork H’quins); Phelie Maguire (Three Rock); Eugene Magee (Banbridge); Mitch Darling (Three Rock); Timmy Cockram (Lisnagarvey); Alan Sothern(Pembroke).

IRELAND (Sunday): Mark Ruddle (Cork C of I); Gareth Lennox (Banbridge); Adam Pritchard (Cork C of I); Joe Brennan (Glenanne); Conor Harte (Pembroke); Karl Burns (Cork of I); Keith Black (Cookstown); Simon Todd (Mossley); David Ames (Cookstown); Stephen Butler (Glenanne); Jason Lynch (Lisnagarvey); Jonny Quigley (Annadale); Geoff McCabe (Banbridge); Michael Watt (Grange); Jonny Bruton (Cork of I); Peter Caruth (Annadale); Alan Sothern (Pembroke); Peter Blakeley (Three Rock).

Senior One: Portadown v Belfast Harlequins, Edenvilla, 1pm (Umpires, C Hutchinson, J Wray); Armagh v Kilkeel, Ardmore 1pm (Umpires, C McConkey, J McAlister); Cliftonville v North Down, CIYMS 2.30pm (Umpires, R Burton, D Clarke); Queen's v South Antrim, Upper Malone, 2.30pm (Umpires, E McFerran, G Herron); Civil Service v Antrim, Stormont, 2.30pm (Umpires, W McCully, T Lorimer); Newry v Ballynahinch, Kilkeel, Newry, 2.30pm (Umpires, C Browne, T Templeton).