IT HAS been eight years since Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson represented Australia, but his enthusiasm for the International Rules concept hasn't waned. 

Thompson, 25, was part of the Australian under-17 squad that toured Ireland in 2000 which included Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Kane Cornes.

And while the Crows' ball-winner expects a quicker and tougher contest in Friday night's first Test against Ireland at Subiaco, he says representing Australia is as great an honour now as it was then.

"That was a great trip and a fantastic experience for me back then," Thompson said on Wednesday in Perth.

"I remember bits and pieces of it, but I'm sure the game will be a lot quicker now than it was back then and a few bigger bodies as well obviously.

"When you pull the Australia jumper on you don't want to lose that's for sure, and we'll be doing everything we can to win on Friday night."

A crucial part of the side's preparation, according to Thompson, has been bringing the team together and building relationships off the field.

The Australians assembled on Sunday and it hasn't taken long for the 25-man squad to gel with light hearted recovery and skills sessions a daily event ahead of Friday's initial encounter against the tourists.

"We know of each other playing against each other at AFL level, but when you come together as a group you don't know each other on a personal level," Thompson said. 

"So to build those relationships is very important.

"Everyone's different in the way they play, so finding out what people do when they get the ball and learning that way is going to be a bit of an experience as well."

Blistering pace throughout the squad has caught Thompson's eye when training with his Australian teammates, and it's a quality he believes can be used extensively against the Irish on Subiaco Oval.

"We've got a lot of speed in the team, that's for sure, so that'll help us on Friday night," he said.

"We want to use our leg speed to our advantage, and how the game unfolds, we'll wait and see. But it'll be an advantage for us."

Thompson conceded Nathan Bock and himself were "just about the slowest blokes in the team", but said a midfield/forward role would suit him in the hybrid game.

However, uncertainty reigns as to how the Australians will line up with Thompson and attacking Collingwood midfielder Dale Thomas both spending time in the back pocket during Monday night's practice match.

Thompson only added to the intrigue by admitting things were far from settled ahead of Thursday's team meeting.

"I couldn't tell you at the moment, we might find it's a bit of everywhere, so it'll be a mixture of positions," he said. 

"It will be interesting, the positions in this game are a lot different to what we're used to so blokes will find themselves all over the place."