Ireland are pinpointing their clash with Bangladesh as their route to the latter stages of the World Twenty20.
The team face fellow minnows the Netherlands in a warm-up contest at Lord's today and hope to repeat their exploits of two years ago when they knocked Pakistan out of the World Cup.
They also defeated Bangladesh in the Caribbean and the Asian side stand in the way of their quest to make it out of Group A and into the Super Eight this time.
Captain William Porterfield, whose team also face holders India, said: ‘We are looking at it that way. We have a realistic chance of qualifying and we will be ready for it.
‘Bangladesh is going to be our biggest game because that is the game we are realistically looking at to win and go through.
‘After the last World Cup, speaking to a few people, there weren't too many who were aware we played cricket back home. It has progressed from then and this is a chance to showcase what we can do.
‘If we can pull off another victory, another upset, and make it to the Super Eights, that can only help the game in Ireland.’
Having lost Ed Joyce on the eve of the 2007 World Cup, Ireland had expected to include Eoin Morgan among their ranks for the forthcoming World Twenty20 only for England to come calling again.
‘It is obviously a massive loss,’ said Porterfield. ‘He is our best player, our best batter, but I am delighted for him.
‘It is great he has the chance to play for England and I hope he has a long, successful career. Everyone in Ireland wishes him all the best.’
Competing at the highest level is hard enough without giving up your best players to the opposition but the Irish camp are resigned to the process as they attempt to improve their own stock.
‘It is not easy but it is all credit to Ireland that we are starting to produce cricketers like that,’ Porterfield added.
‘The more we produce like that, the better players, the more helpful it's going to be to us progressing up the ladder towards Test cricket. So it's a good thing from that perspective.
‘We are realistic that, over the next few years, over the next five certainly, that we're going to struggle to get Test status, and anyone that is good enough to make that step up has a natural progression to play for England.
‘As for our team goals, it's the dream of any associate nation to make it to Test level.
‘If we keep winning associate tournaments and stay on top of our game there we can keep pushing for a place at that level.
‘But we also have to compete against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh first before we make the step up.’
