Andy Farrell predicts Scotland will come out with "all guns blazing" in their bid to spike Ireland's Triple Crown celebrations on Saturday.
Farrell has named a side with three changes from the one that claimed victory at Twickenham last weekend, with Iain Henderson, Mack Hansen and Jack Conan returning to the line-up for the Aviva Stadium encounter.
The Scots, meanwhile, have made a big switch at out-half, with Blair Kinghorn named at out-half ahead of Lions no 10 Finn Russell.
Farrell insisted that switch won't change Ireland's approach, before adding "yes and no" as to whether he was surprised by Gregor Townsend's selection of the Edinburgh man in the playmaker role.
"I mean, I think everyone was expecting Finn to play, he’s a great player," said Farrell.
"But I watched the Connacht game and Blair was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
"We know him well, we know his strengths, he’s very dangerous with the ball in hand.
"He takes the ball on, is very dangerous counter-attack wise, good passing game, good kicking game as well, and it’s a big game for him obviously.
"Gregor’s had a look at him and picked on form because his last game for Edinburgh was outstanding.
“They are a good side. We’ve had some really tough tussles with them of late.
"You go back before the last couple of campaigns in the Six Nations. I think they’ve lost four games and they have all been by one score.
"They are a tough team to beat, they are dangerous with ball in hand as well. That focuses the mind itself.
"We expect them to come out all guns blazing - and we expect to take all the learnings from our Six Nations and put it all out there on Saturday.”
Farrell has expressed confidence that his scrum will get things right after last week's hammering in London, and after he said the Ireland camp got positive messages back from refereeing chiefs this week.
“Yes, good learnings all round for us and for the officials so we are happy with the feedback that we got," said the 46-year-old.
"So the focus has been just about us and making sure we get our own house in order.”
Victory for Ireland will secure an 11th Triple Crown success in championship history - and then if England were to beat France in Paris later on Saturday night then Ireland would also have a Six Nations title to celebrate.
Farrell insists that scenario is not on his mind.
"No, never even thought of it," he claimed.
"It's just about us making sure we start well, making sure we take each moment at a time, and making sure we play our game.
“We have put ourselves in a position to do that (win a Triple Crown), which is nice.
"But as you would expect me to say, this is just about this game and getting the preparation right and we have a couple of days left to make sure that we are at our best.
"We are under no illusions that Scotland will be at their best, they have nothing to lose.
"They are a great side coming to the Aviva trying to spoil a little bit of a party but how do you manage that?
"You get across your preparation and make sure that you take your learnings and hopefully go out there and bring our best performance of the tournament.”
