Code-hopper Tadhg Kennelly is shaping as Australia’s wildcard as they seek to wrest supremacy back from Ireland in the upcoming International Rules Tests.

Kennelly was a key member of the Irish squad which outclassed Australia 2-0 in the 2011 series.

But his close friend and Australian coach Michael O’Loughlin has convinced Kennelly to swap sides and join his coaching staff for the two-Test series in Ireland later this month.

As the only man to have won an AFL premiership (with Sydney in 2005) and an All-Ireland Gaelic football title (with Kerry in 2009), in addition to representing the country of his birth in International Rules, Kennelly occupies a unique position in the history of the composite rules event.

“He’s a great mate of mine and I really want to pay tribute to him because obviously it’s a tough decision for him to be an Australian assistant coach after being an Ireland great, going back and winning an All-Ireland title with Kerry,” O’Loughlin said on Friday.

“He’s fiercely proud of his Irish heritage.

“But I put it on him as one of my really great mates that I needed him for this.

“He’s an Australian citizen and it’s an amazing sign for him to be able to do that.

“He’s right behind us and he’s been instrumental in getting us ready for battle.”

Ireland outclassed Australia 80-36 in Melbourne and 50-29 on the Gold Coast in the 2011 series.

In a bid to breathe new life into a flagging concept, Australia will be represented by an all-indigenous team for the first time in the Tests in Cavan on October 19 and Dublin on October 26.

The most prominent member of the Australian squad is Lance Franklin, although he will miss the second Test as it clashes with the wedding of his former Hawthorn teammate Brent Guerra.

“We knew that was going to happen, so we adjusted,” said O’Loughlin, who has yet to decide whether to call up a replacement player for the second Test.

“He’s fiercely proud of his identity and absolutely wants to be a part of this.

“We couldn’t leave him out.”

As a veteran of 303 games for the Swans from 1995-2009 and the newly-appointed coach of their development academy, O’Loughlin said he was thrilled by the club’s recruitment of Franklin on a $10 million, nine-year contract.

But he was just as surprised as anybody this week when Franklin left Hawthorn to join the Swans, rather than the GWS Giants.