THE visiting Irish international rules side will include at least one player who could join an AFL team as early as next year when it tours later this month for a two-Test series.

The player, who doesn't wish to be named, is part of player representative Ricky Nixon's Irish recruitment program and is being looked at by Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda.

Nixon yesterday told The Age four players were likely to spend time with AFL clubs in November but only one would play for Ireland in the relaunch of the international rules competition.

"The thing is most of the players we are looking at over there play in the minor Gaelic competitions, they have a very successful under-20 competition," Nixon said.

"We are not looking at senior Gaelic players because they are too old to convert into AFL players because you need to be taught how to kick a drop punt when you are 16 or 18 at the latest."

Nixon held a training camp in Ireland in August at which the Tigers, Bulldogs and Kangaroos were joined by Geelong and Brisbane in considering the Irish talent.

Nixon said Geelong and the Lions had since decided against recruiting.

St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser said yesterday the club was looking at the Irish representative in Nixon's program but was unsure of his desire to come to Australia.

The Saints will certainly consider another player, Niall McKeever, who will spend a week with St Kilda in early November.

McKeever, an athletic 190-centimetre player, has gained the interest of at least one other AFL club.

Fraser said the Saints were particularly keen on McKeever because he didn't come from a successful Gaelic club and was less likely to return to Ireland hoping to win an all-Ireland final.

"There is a slightly different opportunity for the kids who are from the south of Ireland, as opposed to the lure of kids from up north, who maybe have less of a chance historically of securing a chance of an all-Ireland final," Fraser said.

The first international rules Test will be played on October 24 at Subiaco, followed by the second Test on October 31 at the MCG.

Nixon said the Australian team, which would be much younger than the Irish outfit, could get a "rude shock" compared to the 2006 series, which Australia won comfortably.

"The two games (AFL and Gaelic football) have come so close to the way they're played now it's not funny," Nixon said.

"Watching Gaelic games over the last few months, the style of play is very similar to AFL with guys running from the back line and hitting up a forward and getting it back and scoring. It is very similar to the style of play we use now.

"They'll (the Irish) take it right up to the AFL players. there is no doubt about that."