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Ireland and Scotland begin their annual three-day game at the North of Ireland Cricket Club, Belfast, this morning, the 84th time the teams have met since their first game in 1909.

Scotland, well ahead in the series with 28 wins to Ireland's 19, the other 36 games having been drawn, have been forced to make late changes with all-rounder Craig Wright pulling out earlier in the week because he starts a new job on Monday.

Martyn Hays, the Prestwick medium pacer, replaces him, while Colin Smith, suffering from a back injury, surrenders his place behind the wicket to 20-year-old Euan Stubbs from Glasgow Accies. This is the young wicket-keeper's first cap.

Greig Williamson and Neil MacRae are given a further chance to establish a new opening partnership for the Scots. They came together for the first time in the final match of the recent series against the South African Cricket Academy and gave their side a satisfactory platform. Previously the selectors had been floundering to find a pairing to succeed Iain Philip, now retired, and Bruce Patterson whose recent form has been indifferent.

Wright's absence weakens the middle order but Drew Parsons, the free-scoring Prestwick left-hander, gets another opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent berth following his impressive innings, also in the final match against the Academy, when he scored a fluent 72. The highly promising Ayaz Gul is another batsman trying to cement a regular place in the side.

James Brinkley and Asim Butt, who bowled so well during the World Cup, will spearhead the attack with left-armer Andy Tennant coming in for the unavailable Keith Sheridan to join Nick Dyer in the spin department.