Ireland begin the defence of their European Championship title when they take on Norway at The Hills in Dublin on Friday.

The hosts will play five games in the round robin competition including the final game against Scotland on 31 July.

Norway are newcomers to Division 1 of the competition and the Irish will be big favourites in Friday's match.

Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan will miss Ireland's opening two games in the competition because of county duties.

However, captain William Porterfield is available for all five games while Wilson and Andrew Poynter will slot into the squad for the games against Norway, Denmark and Italy.

O'Brien and Morgan will play in the matches against Scotland and The Netherlands, which are official one-day internationals and will count towards world rankings.

In all, six associate and affiliate nations will battle it out in a round robin format for the ICC European Championship crown.

The tournament will also provide the Irish, Scots and Dutch with important preparation for the World Twenty20 Qualifier which begins in Belfast on 2 August.

The presence of Porterfield, O'Brien and Morgan means that the Irish are being tipped to defend their title in Dublin.

Reinhardt Strydom, Andre Botha, Paul Stirling and O'Brien's brother Kevin are also part of a formidable batting line-up while the recent form of paceman Peter Connell has boosted the Irish bowling attack.

Ireland squad: William Porterfield (captain), Andre Botha (North County), Peter Connell (North Down), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), Thinus Fourie (Railway Union), Gary Kidd (Waringstown), Kyle McCallan (Waringstown), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Northamptonshire), Paul Stirling (Cliftonville), Reinhardt Strydom (North County), Andrew White (Instonians), Gavin McKenna (North Down), Gary Wilson and Andrew Poynter.

ICC European Division 1 Championship schedule

Friday 25 July 2008

Ireland v Norway, The Hills CC

Scotland v Denmark, Malahide CC

Netherlands v Italy, North County CC

Saturday 26 July 2008

Ireland v Denmark, Leinster CC

Scotland v Italy, The Hills CC

Netherlands v Norway, North County CC

Monday 28 July

Ireland v Netherlands, Clontarf CC

Scotland v Norway, Leinster CC

Denmark v Italy, Merrion CC

Tuesday 29 July

Scotland v Netherlands, Clontarf CC

Ireland v Italy, Malahide CC

Denmark v Norway, North County CC

Thursday 31 July

Ireland v Scotland, Clontarf CC

Netherlands v Denmark, The Hills CC

Norway v Italy, Malahide CC