Matthews said on Thursday that he planned to play against

Match factsSeptember 25, 2016 Start time 1000 local (0800 GMT)Big PictureAs cricket ventures towards expansion, these are the kinds of games it needs. In the larger context, there may not be any good reason for Ireland to visit South Africa for two one-off ODIs but, as an isolated event, to play the No. 1 and No. 4 ranked sides in the format will be a good, albeit rare, experience for the Associate side.Ireland have played against each of Australia and South Africa only four times before and have not won a match. They have not been to South Africa since Eoin Morgan was still in their side, seven years ago for qualifiers of the 2011 World Cup. Then, too, they played in Benoni. William Porterfield and the OBrien brothers remain from that trip while the rest will all be first-timers in the country, trying to get Ireland back to the consistency they had a few years ago. Recent results have seen a dip in Irelands form; they are now ranked 12th in ODIs, below Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. They dont have many opportunities to climb, but this will be one.For South Africa, the match marks the real start of a season that began with two winter Tests against New Zealand last month. Their packed home season includes 28 matches across formats until March next year. Limited-overs cricket will likely remain a low priority as they chase Test redemption, but with the Champions Trophy less than nine months away, they will want to begin planning, which for them usually also means climbing the rankings. Victory against Ireland wont do much for that cause but it will set them up for the five-match series against Australia that follows. A series win for South Africa in that contest will see them rise to No. 2.Perhaps, more importantly, the focus will be on how South Africa will enter a new era marked by transformation targets which stipulate that they field a minimum average of six players of colour, including two black Africans, over the course of a season. Essentially that means that at the end of the summer, an audit will be done of every match played to check that the target has been met. Administrators have already said that the fact that the calculation will be done as an average will allow the selectors flexibility, which throws up the possibility of loading teams with players of colour in seemingly meaningless matches, so that there are fewer constraints in selection for bigger games. In this ODI, as many as four black Africans may take the field for South Africa.This will also be the first match in which the new DRS laws will be applied.Form guideSouth Africa LWLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)Ireland LWLWLIn the spotlightTemba Bavuma has only opened the batting twice in List A cricket - once in 2010 and more recently in February for Lions against Knights - but it is a role he may have to get accustomed to. Russell Domingo believes Bavuma could become a long-term opener, given his tight technique and ability to build an innings, and has hinted that Bavuma will be asked to bat in that position at franchise level this season.Kevin OBrien will be the man South Africa want to stop, not just because of his reputation. OBrien was one of only two players to score more than 25 the last time South Africa and Ireland met. The other one, Andy Balbirnie, is not in this squad. OBrien also took the all-important wicket of Faf du Plessis, who will captain South Africa in this match.Teams newsAll three of South Africas new caps could make their debuts in a new-look XI that is without AB de Villiers (injured), Hashim Amla (awaiting the birth of his third child), Dale Steyn (rested) and Imran Tahir (rested). Bavuma will probably open the batting with Quinton de Kock, and David Miller will return after being left out of the triangular tournament in the Caribbean. Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo and Wayne Parnell will form a trio of allrounders. Aaron Phangiso is the only specialist spinner in the side.South Africa (possible): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 David Miller, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Dwaine Pretorius, 9 Andile Phehlukwayo, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Aaron PhangisoNeither Ed Joyce nor Boyd Rankin have traveled with the Ireland squad for these matches which, in the words of Adrian Birrell, South Africas assistant coach who used to be in charge of Ireland, robs them of their best batsman and best bowler. Sean Terry will fill in for Joyce while Ireland will have to decide if Tim Murtagh, who will arrive straight from playing in the county season finale for Middlesex against Yorkshire, should be thrown into the mix immediately or given an extra days rest.Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield, 2 Sean Terry, 3 Niall OBrien, 4 Gary Wilson, 5 Kevin OBrien, 6 Paul Stirling, 7 Stuart Poynter (wk), 8 Andy McBrine, 9 George Dockerell , 10 Barry McCarthy/Tim Murtagh, 11 Peter ChasePitch and conditionsFrom an ODI total of 399 by South Africa against Zimbabwe in 2010 to scores of 91 and 104 by Netherlands and Scotland respectively, Willowmoore Parks pitch is capable of anything. In what is still early season, it is likely to be slow and low and perhaps take some turn, favouring a more old-fashioned style of play. While the surface readies for summer, the weather is already there. A beautiful day is expected with temperatures hitting 28 degrees and clear skies.Stats and triviaSouth Africa have played four ODIs against Ireland - three at World Cups - and have won all of them. They have never played Ireland at home.Willowmoore Park has not hosted an international match since 2013, when South Africa played Pakistan.Niall OBrien needs 36 runs to become the fourth Irish player, and second in his family, to reach 2000 ODI runs.QuotesThey are a team that cannot be taken lightly. Every now and again, they create a huge upset. I wouldnt look at their recent losses independently. Id look at them in their last five years and theyve had some big wins.South Africas assistant coach Adrian Birrell, who was in charge of Ireland in the past, expects a fight from the Associate nation Goose Goslin Jersey . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. George Kell Jersey . 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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Packers coach Mike McCarthy has said no one man can change the fortunes of a team.But in Clay Matthews and Christine Michael, Green Bay has two players who can only help in areas on opposite sides of the ball in which production has tailed off late.Matthews on Thursday practiced for a second straight day on a limited basis, a positive step for the Packers best edge rusher. The long-haired linebacker has been out the past three games with a hamstring injury.Matthews has been around Lambeau Field for a while, unlike Michael, the newest Packer.Claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, Michael took a redeye from Seattle and arrived at Lambeau at about 9:45 a.m.Less than two hours later, he was at Packers practice.The flight was the least of my worries. I was just ready to get up here as soon as possible, Michael said.Grab my playbook, get going, treat my body up well, meet the guys. ... Call this place home and just run with it.Its unclear yet how much Matthews and Michael will be able to play on Sunday night, when Green Bay (4-5) visits the Washington Redskins.The Packers arent used to being under .500 at midseason. Losers of three straight games , two of the biggest areas of concerns for the team are the pass rush and the lack of a running game.These are areas where Matthews and Michael could help.The Packers gave up a season-high 446 yards in the 47-25 loss to Tennessee last week, falling behind 21-0 after the first quarter.The Packers have a respectable 22 sacks on the season, though 14 came in the first four games.Matthews has missed four games this season to injury, including the past three. The 31-26 loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 6 was emblematic of the Packers pass rush problems.While quarterback Andrew Luck is known for his ability to evade pressure, Green Bay managed just two sacks against what was considered a porous offensive line.Oh, I mean, as a team, having dropped what, three in a row now? Its difficult to watch, Matthewss said.ddddddddddddor McCarthy, getting more production out of the pass rush starts in the early downs with stopping the run. The Packers earlier this season had success with rushing four, but that has waned in recent weeks.At the end of the day as far as how you go about it you want to get those 1-on-1 opportunities, but when you do youve got to win. Youve got to win and get the quarterback off the spot, McCarthy said.What McCarthy hasnt done is add more pressure on Matthews. The Packers have played it cautiously with an injury that Matthews has had in the past.Its not about one player. Never will be. Theres so much more to our football team than just our star players, McCarthy said earlier this week.And I probably should say that in good times (too) but I understand when we win games you want to prop a couple guys up and then when it doesnt go well we want to go the other way, too, McCarthy added. Clay is an outstanding football player, hes injured. Its part of the game.Matthews said on Thursday that he planned to play against Washington, barring the kind of setback he had a couple of weeks ago. It seemed promising then, too, before Matthews ended up sitting out the Colts game.As for Michael, the odds of the fourth-year back being able to contribute in a meaningful way right away seem low. He barely had time to learn the playbook, let alone unpack his bags.In the long run, the hope is Michael will be able to join James Starks in a rushing attack that has needed a boost since Eddie Lacy went down with an ankle injury.Michael ran for 469 yards and six touchdowns on 117 attempts in nine games for Seattle this season, including seven starts.Im just going to get me a playbook as soon as possible and learn as much as possible and see where it goes, Michael said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL . ' ' '