There will a definite step up in class against England, though, and while everything points to a comfortable home victory, Powell says his men have already proved themselves big winners by getting this far.

“Ireland getting to the final is great for the game throughout Great Britain,” insisted Powell.

“We’ve basically now got an 80-minute advert for Irish rugby league, and it’s great to be the first Irish team to get to the final.

“We’re not going to make up the numbers, though – we will give it a go.”

The achievement of the Irish in reaching the final will prove a real shot in the arm for the 13-man code here, according to Powell.

Brian Carney has already emerged from the land of GAA to represent Great Britain with distinction against Australia, and there is real belief that exposing more Irish players and supporters – as well as Welsh and Scots – to international rugby league through competitions like this will only bode well for the future.

Powell continued: “The group games against Scotland and Wales were very evenly-matched. The standard really has been excellent.

“If you look at what’s happened this year, with a few amateurs playing for each of their native countries, it’s gone very well indeed.

“A quarter of our squad now are first-generation Irish – in the last World Cup we only had Brian Carney – so it’s really helping the development the game over there.

“We’ve got three players from Super League, another group of players from National League One and Two, and a few others from the regional competitions, so it’s going to be a very big ask for us.

“We know it’s going to be exceptionally tough for us against a team from the Super League. We’ve worked really hard to be competitive, though, and the players have really got together.”

Powell also singled out seasoned campaigners Barrie McDermott and skipper Phil Cantillon, who have represented Wigan and Leeds in Super League, for particular praise in providing an inspiring example for the more inexperienced members of the squad.

He added: “Barrie and Phil have been excellent with the rest of the squad - they’ve got a lot of Super League experience, they know what it’s like, but they’ve been willing to pass on their experience to the kids.

“It’s been hard for some players to get time off work and we’ve had flying people over to be here for the game, but we’re delighted to be in the final - and we’ve got nothing to lose.”

Powell has the luxury of a full-strength squad at his disposal, while Harrison has also reported a clean bill of health in the England camp.