Unlike this time last year, Ireland will be hoping to start the Six Nations in positive fashion.
But for Andy Farrell, it goes beyond just immediate championship ambitions.
The new head coach will be aiming to make sure he does not start his reign with a setback and gains some early momentum in what is likely to be a transition year for the set-up.
First up are Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 1 February with a mix of familiar faces and new names in the Irish ranks, while England venture on a trip to a new-look France and Wales under new leadership tackle an Italy team in search of a long-awaited Six Nations win.
Ireland's match kicks off at 4.45pm and we've got all the details you need.
ONLINE
You can follow Ireland v Scotland via our live blog on RTE.ie/Sport and the News Now app.
RADIO
RTÉ Radio is the exclusive home of the Men's Six Nations Championship with all of the Irish games live across RTE Radio 1 or 2FM.
So if you're thinking of listening in to Ireland v Scotland, you will be able to tune in live on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport with Michael Corcoran on commentary duty alongside Donal Lenihan.
Game On (weekdays at 6.00pm on RTÉ Radio 2fm) will have features, analysis and special guests throughout the Championships with Donncha O'Callaghan on hand in studio.
TV
Highlights from Against the Head will be available on Monday at 8pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Live match coverage of the three opening weekend fixtures will be on Virgin Media One.
WEATHER
Saturday: Mainly dry in Dublin on Saturday with sunny spells. Highs of 8 or 9°C in brisk westerly winds, strong on coasts.
EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION?
As Bernard Jackman told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland, Andy Farrell's first Ireland XV hints that the "power game" will be the main tactic against Scotland, mirroring the style that overpowered the same opposition at the World Cup last Autumn.
The new head coach has avoided the temptation to ring too many changes with the under-pressure Conor Murray keeping his place ahead of the in-form John Cooney, while Bundee Aki takes one of the centre spots ahead of Robbie Henshaw and a CJ Stander carrying increasing question marks keeps his place in the back-row, albeit at blindside.
#TeamOfUs
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) January 28, 2020
Here's the Ireland team to play Scotland in the opening round of the #GuinnessSixNations in @AVIVAStadium on Saturday.
Two uncapped players: Caelan Doris & Ronan Kelleher.#ShoulderToShoulder pic.twitter.com/Ar7nLV7Krs
New openings have opened in the starting team, with Caelan Doris' anchoring of the back-row in his debut appearance an intriguing one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
While Doris' Leinster team-mate Ronan Kelleher had been tipped to start at hooker, Ulster's Rob Herring takes the number two jersey for the first post-Rory Best game.
They are incremental changes along with Jordan Larmour's confirmation is the leading option at full-back.
It all points to an evolution in the make-up of the Ireland team rather than a revolution.
BIG WORRIES FOR SCOTLAND
Ireland didn't have the type of World Cup the team would have hoped for in Japan.
But it was still a more positive memory compared to what Scotland fans witnessed.
The Irish side made light work of the Scots last September and while the latter might be out for revenge, Gregor Townsend's side have plenty of worries even discounting the Finn Russell issue and a porous defence.
A poor Six Nations could leave a once nascent Scottish team facing into crisis.
But that sense of crisis may have already arrived according to BBC Scotland chief sports writer Tom English.
He told the RTÉ Rugby Podcast: "I think it's a really bad situation for Scotland already. They bombed out of the World Cup, they had one win out of five in the Six Nations.
"There's no expectation but none of this is new."
English feels Scotland are in trouble if there is no dramatic improvement in defence.
"There is a good core of players here," he said.
"I keep going back to this because it's the absolute heart of the problem, but if the defence isn't bolstered massively then the defeats are going to keep coming, Townsend's going to lose his job and players are going to lose morale and the whole cycle, there will be another decade of failure and then another decade of failure."
He added: "These are grim times for Scottish rugby in the international scene. But it's been grim for 20 years."
And on Adam Hastings who will fill the Russell void in Dublin, he explained that the Glasgow out-half is more likely to stick with the game-plan for far longer than his absent but maverick Racing 92 counterpart.
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FRANCE'S FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Elsewhere, Wayne Pivac's Wales take on Italy in the new head coach's first assignment on Saturday at 2.15pm.
But the truly fascinating fixture to watch will be in Paris where England lock horns with a France team being built for the 2023 World Cup on home soil.
Of the 42 players France initially called up for the Six Nations, 19 were uncapped as Fabien Galthie looks to build for the future.
Chief among the newcomers are players from France's Under-20 World Championship-winning squads of 2018 and 2019.
Rich promise certainly but how will it all gel together? The first signs will be visible on Sunday from 3pm.
Follow Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 4.45pm) on Saturday via our live blog on RTE.ie/Sport and the News Now app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport. Highlights on Against the Head, Monday at 8pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
