So far, that experience has been humbling. The touring side was beaten by 117 runs by Canterbury on Tuesday and lost to Northern Districts by three wickets last week.
Its game against a New Zealand XI was abandoned, so there has been no joy yet.
That could change with a win over Otago today, but Irish coach Phil Simmons is not sure what to expect from the Volts.
He had not seen the line-up when the Otago Daily Times contacted him for comment.
Not that it really matters. He is, of course, focused on lifting his side's performance and helping it adjust to the different conditions.
''I think we just have to go out and do the things that we want to do in these games and just try to make sure we are playing the best cricket we can,'' he said.
''Our trip here is vital because none of the guys have played down here before and we have two games in New Zealand, so we need to understand what it is like down here. It is vital for that reason.
''At the end of the three games here, we can sit down and say this is how we want to play when we are in New Zealand and everyone will have a better idea.''
Ireland has a reputation as a giant-killer. A memorable win over Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup followed by a win over England at the 2011 tournament cemented that fame.
But it will have to perform similar miracles if it is going to progress beyond pool play. Teams will probably need at least three wins to reach the quarterfinals.
Ireland is in pool B with South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates.
Zimbabwe and the UAE would have to be target games and its campaign opener against the West Indies in Nelson on February 16 is perhaps its best opportunity of knocking over a test nation.
Simmons, who played 26 tests and 143 ODIs for the West Indies, is not looking at it that way.
''More than likely we will target every game. It is a case of working out a plan to play everyone ...
in order to beat them.
''For us, it does not matter which three. We are not going to say we are targeting the UAE and Zimbabwe - we are targeting everybody. We might not beat the UAE but we might beat India or South Africa.
''It is not a case of targeting teams. I think that will get you into trouble. We have to try to win every game we play.''
Ireland is missing some players on this tour but the squad which fronts for the World Cup should have a settled look.
Its strength rests in its batting with a lot resting of the shoulders of Kevin O'Brien. But spinner George Dockrell is also highly-rated.
''I think in the last year and a-half our batting has come to the party more times than the bowling. We need to ... work on our bowling because these days 300 is a normal total in one-day cricket.
''It is a case of keeping teams below 300 to have a good chance of winning.''
