NAT Fyfe looks to have escaped serious damage to the right shoulder he injured in the dying stages of Tuesday's International Rules practice match in Sydney.

 

But the gun Fremantle midfielder will sit out Saturday's Test against Ireland at Patersons Stadium as a precaution.

 

The injury happened when Fyfe was diving for a mark late in the game against a New South Wales Gaelic team in western Sydney.

 

He hurt his right shoulder, which is classified as his "good" one given the two operations he has previously needed on his left side.

 

The 2014 AFLPA Most Valuable Player and Fremantle best and fairest will be assessed by the Dockers in the next few days.

 

"I dived for a mark and simply landed the wrong way and it didn't feel right," Fyfe said.

 

"I've loved the experience over the last few days and meeting players from across the competition, and it's incredibly disappointing to miss out."

 

The Australian squad leaves Sydney for Perth on Tuesday night.

 

Fyfe was due to participate in his first International Rules campaign, and in front of his home crowd in Perth.

 

But Australian team management and medical staff decided it was not worth risking any player on the eve of the pre-season.

 

In 2010, then-Geelong forward Travis Varcoe missed three months of pre-season after needing surgery on the shoulder he injured in a practice match in Ireland while on the International Rules tour.

 

The Irish team played their practice match on Sunday in Melbourne and got through largely unscathed, although Brisbane Lions' midfielder Pearce Hanley suffered a minor scare.

 

Hanley was bumped on the jaw in a collision with VFL player Adam Cockie in the third quarter.

 

He didn't play the last quarter but assured AFL.com.au afterwards he was fine.

 

Another member of the Irish squad, Darren Hughes, also hurt his right quad in the third quarter and spent the rest of the game icing it.