The one word mentioned more than any other in the Wales camp this week must surely have been complacency.
The assumption from many observers is that they just have to turn up, put on their kit, bury the Italians under an avalanche of tries and then focus everything on next weekend's Six Nations finale against France, where they will have a tilt at what would be a remarkable third Grand Slam in eight years.
But Wales know what it's like to lose to Italy. To their embarrassment it has happened to them twice and Warren Gatland and his coaching staff will be taking no chances - and the team he has picked for Saturday's match certainly indicates this.
During the 2009 Six Nations, he made 10 changes for the trip to Rome ahead of a Championship decider with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium a week later.
Led by the indomitable Sergio Parisse the Italians dragged Wales from pillar to post before Gatland summoned the cavalry from the bench and they limped to a 20-15 victory.
They may have won but the damage had been done. They were left with a significantly inferior points difference to Ireland, meaning they were up against it before a ball was kicked. The Irish knew exactly what they had to do, kept them at arm's length and secured the Championship and a Grand Slam to boot.
This time, the big guns are all in place and Gatland will be targeting a huge win, just in case. And it is something they really should achieve given that in six previous Six Nations encounters against the Italians in Cardiff the Welsh average a whopping 39 points.
They shouldn't have any troubles swatting away an Azzurri side that have sparkled in bursts but have always looked resigned to their annual end of tournament wrestling match with Scotland for the Wooden Spoon.
As has been the case for seemingly every Six Nations they have the cornerstone of a team that could threaten the old order, as they showed by beating France last year, but yet again they have fallen well short.
Their continued failure to find successors to legendary half-backs Diego Dominguez and Alessandro Troncon means they have gone for Kris Burton again.
After a hapless display against England, Burton was dropped to the bench, but remarkably his successor Tobias Botes proved to be even worse against Ireland so Burton is back in possession of the number 10 shirt.
Since Dominguez retired in 2003 Italy have had over 30 different half-back combinations and until they solve this conundrum chances are they will find themselves in possession of the dreaded spoon.
At least the old warhorse Mirco Bergamasco is back and should prove to be a more reliable place-kicker.
However, it's unlikely he will be given a chance to replicate the 17 points he scored in that epic victory over the French last year. Damage limitation could be the name of the game.
Wales : 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Mike Phillips-; 1-Gethin Jenkins (c) , 2-Matthew Rees, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Alun Wyn Jones, 5-Ian Evans, 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Toby Faletau
Replacements: 16-Ken Owens, 17-Paul James, 18-Luke Charteris, 19-Ryan Jones, 20-Rhys Webb, 21-James Hook, 22-Scott Williams
Italy : 15-Andrea Masi, 14-Luke McLean, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Alberto Sgarbi, 11-Mirco Bergamasco, 10-Kristopher Burton, 9 - Fabio Semenzato ; 1-Andrea Lo Cicero, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Cornelius van Zyl, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7-Simone Favaro, 8-Sergio Parisse (c)
Replacements: 16-Tommaso D'Apice, 17-Fabio Staibano, 18-Marco Bortolami, 19-Robert Barbieri, 20-Tobias Botes, 21-Tommaso Benvenuti, 22-Giulio Toniolatti
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee : George Clancy (IRE)
Touch judges : Peter Fitzgibbon (IRE) & Peter Allan (SCO)
TV : Geoff Hughes (ENG)