Mumbai: The domestic season-ending Irani Cup game between Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai and the Rest of India (RoI), beginning here at the Brabourne on Sunday, will provide fringe players a good opportunity to stake claims for the national team.

This game is the last occasion for hopefuls from both ranks to impress the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil before attention shifts totally to the World T20, followed by the IPL.

With the country expected to play over 15 Test matches post IPL till the end of next season, this match is the ideal platform for these players to prove their mettle for the long Test haul.

Mumbai, who clinched the Ranji crown for the 41st time last week by outplaying Saurashtra, have a settled combination led by Aditya Tare. They appear to be better prepared than the motley bunch of Rest of India, being led by Madhya Pradesh 'keeper-batsman Naman Ojha. The fact that Mumbai have not won the title since 1997-98 would be another motivating factor as well.

However, they would take RoI lightly at their own peril as the latter have a good bowling attack at their command even without Barinder Sran and Nathu Singh, both of whom have been replaced by Ankit Rajpoot and Anureet Singh, respectively, due to injuries.

The team has Andhra's KS Bharat, who can open the innings, as the second 'keeper and Vidarbha's Faiz Fazal as his likely opening partner.