After last season's fifth-place finish, it is testament to the work of head coach Joe Schmidt that there is an element of disappointment that Ireland are playing merely for the Six Nations title and nothing more in 2014.
England crushed Ireland's Grand Slam and Triple Crown dreams at Twickenham last time out, doing just enough to stop a side whose previous displays against Scotland and Wales suggested they were the juggernaut that would not be stopped.
Of all the teams - Ireland, England, France and Wales - that go into the penultimate weekend with hopes of the championship alive, Schmidt's side have the most appetising tie.
England and Wales will bash each other up at Twickenham for the privilege of retaining interest in the silverware, while France travel to a Scotland side lifted by their first win of 2014 last time out. Italy, on the other hand, are the only nation without a win this series.
Not that Schmidt is taking the challenge lightly. He was not involved in Rome 12 months ago when Ireland lost to the Italians for the first time in 18 games - a defeat that arguably led to Declan Kidney's exit - but Schmidt is all too aware of the threat.
Jacques Brunel's Italy have not picked up a point so far but in Michele Campagnaro they have a pacy centre in form with three tries in five games, while restored fly-half Luciano Orquera was a thorn in Ireland's side with his dangerous kicking game.
With that in mind, Schmidt spoke of respect in his pre-match news conference, and of avoiding over-confidence. The astute former Leinster boss has moulded his players tactically, and the evidence is there from their 2014 revival that they also absorb his mantra mentally. The temptation to look to France as the big decider has been well and truly rubbished by the Kiwi; focus remains on Italy until the 80 minutes are up.
One man whose memories of the 2013 defeat in Rome are particularly sour is Brian O'Driscoll. Yellow-carded for only the second time in his Ireland career, he received a three-week ban for stamping. In what will be a record-breaking 140th Test, he has the chance to create a happier memory on his final home appearance.
Jonny Sexton retains his place at 10 after overcoming a thumb injury picked up in the England game, although in-form flanker Peter O'Mahony is out with a hamstring injury. Iain Henderson steps up from the bench to take the blind-side berth.
For Italy, skipper Sergio Parisse is rested as a result of a calf strain, while Alessandro Zanni's 58-match run in the Italy side has come to an end after he returned to Treviso with a knee sprain.
In their place, Brunel has recalled Marco Bortolami - who captains the side - and Paul Derbyshire comes in. There are changes in the halves with Orquera and Tito Tebaldi preferred to the benched duo of Edoardo Gori and Tommy Allan.
Ireland : 15-Rob Kearney; 14-Andrew Trimble, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Gordon D'Arcy, 11-Dave Kearney; 10-Jonny Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Cian Healy, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O'Connell, 6-Iain Henderson, 7-Chris Henry, 8-Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Jack McGrath, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Rhys Ruddock, 20-Jordi Murphy, 21-Eoin Reddan, 22-Paddy Jackson, 23-Fergus McFadden
Italy : 15-Luke McLean; 14-Angelo Esposito, 13-Michele Campagnaro, 12-Gonzalo Garcia, 11-Leonardo Sarto; 10-Luciano Orquera, 9-Tito Tebaldi; 1-Alberto De Marchi, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Marco Bortolami, 6-Joshua Furno, 7-Paul Derbyshire, 8-Robert Barbieri
Replacements: 16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Michele Rizzo, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Antonio Pavanello, 20-Manoa Vosawai, 21-Edoardo Gori, 22-Tommy Allan, 23-Andrea Masi
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee : Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges : Pascal Gauzere (France) & Greg Garner (England)
TV : Geoff Warren (England)
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