COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Pendlebury has avoided serious injury and hopes to play in Saturday night's second Test of the Virgin Australia International Rules Series in Perth.

Pendlebury was in good spirits on Monday morning when he spoke to reporters outside the Playford Hotel in Adelaide.

The Magpies skipper had x-rays on the middle finger of his left hand after getting it stuck in an Ireland player's jumper in Australia's 10-point win at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

"If it was the AFL, I would've played out the game and I would've played the next week," Pendlebury said.

"It's only minor.

"I'm keen to play on Saturday over in Perth.

"Any time you can play for Australia and play with the best of the best, it's a great experience.

"Being around the group for the next week is going to be awesome still."

The injury was on the other hand to the one that forced Pendlebury to have finger surgery after the Magpies' round 17 clash with Gold Coast.

While Pendlebury is a chance of facing the Irish at Domain Stadium, Gold Coast midfielder Pearce Hanley has already been ruled out of the Irish team after breaking his hand on Sunday.

Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak said the injuries to Pendlebury and Hanley were impossible to avoid and shouldn't detract from the IRS.

"It puts a bit of a sour taste on the game and the win, but we absolutely love playing this game," Boak said.

"I reckon Scott would put his hand up again no matter what.

"It is unfortunate for Pendles, but look, it's a part of the game, he'll be right to go for his pre-season and round one.

"But we absolutely love representing our country and we hope it continues to grow."

Boak got into a couple of minor scuffles with Geelong's Zach Tuohy, but said it was nothing more than two players giving everything they had to gain a competitive edge.

"It was a bit of fun in the end," Boak said.

"I think he got me back later in the game and we had a bit of a smile about it.

"I was all a bit of fun in the game."

Australia will reclaim the Cormac McAnallen Trophy if it can beat Ireland on Saturday night, or lose by less than 10 points to claim the series victory on aggregate.

Adelaide forward Eddie Betts was in awe of Ireland's skill with the round ball.

"They can talk to the ball, they caress it and they can kick it 60 metres," Betts said.

"We're hoping to kick it that way (to the left), but it goes that way (to the right).

"They're pretty quick and so is the speed of the game, you've got to get up, you've got to get back, it's tiring."