PHIL SIMMONS tipped Ireland's opening batsman Paul Stirling to have a "big impact" on the ICC World Twenty20 qualifier, which starts this morning in Dubai.

Two places are at stake for Associates in the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in October.

Ireland kick off their seven-match group programme with a game against Namibia, and the coach warned his team they would need to hit the ground running.

"The team I think is most dangerous in the whole tournament is Namibia," he said.

"The last time we played the fool in the first game and dropped abut seven catches we let Afghanistan beat us – and we paid for it in the end.

"We have to make sure that we are one up tomorrow night."

Stirling, 21, comes into the tournament on the back of an unbeaten century in his last innings, his first in 20-20 for Ireland.

"That was nice, I got to bat the full 20 and not many have done that."

"I'm looking forward massively to the tournament, it's very big for us."

"Hopefully we'll win every game and get into the World Cup. If we go in with a strong mindset we'll come out with wins."

Ireland goes into the tournament with question marks in a couple of areas, and Simmons will hope he doesn't regret the non-selection of a couple of prize assets.

Niall O'Brien, Ireland's leading batsman in 20-20, was not picked because he put a contract to play in the Bangladesh Premier League ahead of a game in Kenya.

Irish batsmen have only made eight 50s in official 20-20s, and O'Brien has made four of them.

And with Trent Johnston just back from a major shoulder operation, the decision not to call up Middlesex star Tim Murtagh could prove a blunder.

But Simmons is standing by his man and tips the Hills' Max Sorensen as one to watch in this tournament.

"Max has shown he's awesome in the field and his bowling as exceptional at times in Kenya. "

Simmons sees Scotland and Holland as the biggest threats – "they've both being playing good cricket.

"Afghanistan could be there too, but Hamid Hassan is a big loss for them."

"But the conditions are brilliant here, the weather is heating up. And the guys are raring to go which is always a good sign."

The tournament runs for 12 days, with up to nine games if Ireland reaches the final. The competition has attracted a lot of interest as two former test players have switched allegiances: Mike di Venuto (Australia to Italy) and Geraint Jones (England to Papua New Guinea).

IRELAND'S GAMES

Today: Namibia, Wednesday: Kenya, Thursday: Italy, Friday: USA, Sunday: Scotland, Monday: Uganda, This day week: Oman.