Should Scotland secure the 2013 Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International Series trophy today, they may have cause to thank an unexpected occurence in Badenoch months ago.

At the beginning of 2013, PJ MacKintosh, the Newtonmore manager, opted to field new Scottish cap and namesake Fraser in his forward line. It was intended as a stop-gap and the caveats were clearly established at the outset. The 31-year-old, who made his Scotland debut at Croke Park in the first leg, would cover for injuries and suspensions in attack for a month "unless he could force his manager's hand" for an extended stay.

What prescient words they turned out to be, both for the champions and for Drew McNeil's national side.

Today, Fraser MacKintosh - probably the tallest player in shinty - will lead the line for the Scots as they attempt to pull back Ireland's six-point advantage from Dublin, secured last Saturday.

Full of confidence, the man who was meant to revert back to a centre line or defensive role after his brief stint further up the field, will start the game as the top scorer in shinty.

The turn-around for the player has been incredible, and he would love to finish his incredible season with a series win for Scotland at Bught Park in Inverness.

"I absolutely loved my first cap at Croke Park last Saturday," said the 31-year-old, a cabinet-maker by trade. "It was an amazing experience and I wished I had been involved in the international scene before now. I actually played from U16 to U21 level but I never really put myself forward after that because I didn't feel, personally, that I was playing well enough go do so.

"I'd played in defence and in the centre line for Newtonmore and never really found my best position. Maybe playing up front was my last chance," he laughs.

"This year, I've played in the forward line all season and it's been great. I did actually play one season up front before, when I was about 16 but Newtonmore were fighting relegation in those days and I think I was top scorer with nine goals, which shows how far we've come as a club."

As well as forcing himself into the national side, MacKintosh has savoured a league championship winner's medal and a Camanachd Cup final victory.

The rewards for his switch have been fulsome. There does, though, remain the one piece of unfinished business for 2013. The bustling forward doesn't want to see the Irish heading home with the trophy.

"Speaking to the other guys," he said, "they say this is as confident as we've been for a few years. Obviously, we have ground to make up and there were lapses in concentration last weekend that were punished. But hopefully we can snuff those out this time because we created a lot of chances in Dublin.

"When we managed to get the ball down and into wide areas, they seemed to struggle so we need to do that again, if the conditions will allow. What was noticeable was that last weekend's game looked more like a shinty game, rather than us stopping Ireland play, so there were lots of positives."

John Meyler's Irish hurlers will feel equally confident they can complete the job in the highland capital. Nevertheless, they are aware that the gulf of 2012 has closed.

"There were times when we dominated the play," said McNeil. "I think having a shinty referee will help us this time."

For a number of years, the series hasn't been closer. It may come down to fate - and the highland weather.