Ireland are determined to boost their ICC world ranking as they prepare to begin a one-day international series against Zimbabwe on Friday.

William Porterfield's side are intent on improving their standing within the world game after impressing at the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, and this series provides a chance of earning crucial points.

Ireland - who welcome back Kevin O'Brien following his recovery from a hamstring injury - come into the series having failed to win their last two matches in all formats, with Porterfield determined to bounce back with a morale-boosting victory.

"It's a series away from home against a team that's ranked very close to us, so it's important because we want to keep progressing up the ladder," he said. 

"If we can get a series win here it's going to be great for ourselves and great for cricket in Ireland, and also good to put points on the board in terms of rankings. 

"We're pretty similar on the table and they've generally been close games, here in Harare and at the World Cup, and we've had a tie as well. 

"Both teams are pretty confident coming into this series that they can get that series win."

The two nations have enjoyed a fierce rivalry in their previous seven meetings, including a tied ODI at the 2007 World Cup.

Their latest encounter came earlier this year in Hobart as Ireland clung on to a World Cup win by five runs, after they had shared 657 runs in the day.

Ed Joyce's 112 and 97 from Andrew Balbirnie proved decisive for Ireland as they reached 331-8 from their 50 overs, and Zimbabwe came within five of securing a win thanks to Brendan Taylor's 121.

Zimbabwe will look to exact revenge for that defeat with victory in the opening ODI in Harare, building on their recent performances against Pakistan.

Their batting let them down in that series as Pakistan secured a 2-1 win and Hamilton Masakadza has been dropped as a result, but captain Elton Chigumbura is confident his side - one that should include Craig Ervine - are ready to go again.

"When we go out there we want to win every game that we play," said Chigumbura. "We've got more expectation on us to win these games against Ireland, so obviously there's a little more pressure on us. 

"So we have to rise to the occasion. It's an important series for us. 

"I'm sure if we play our best cricket we'll come out on top. We've been looking forward to this series. It's going to be hard cricket."