Two years after his famous drop goal sealed victory at the death in the Stade de France, Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is enthused about returning to the venue with the opportunity for a trophy on the line.
With a Grand Slam beyond the grasp of anyone in 2020, Andy Farrell's squad head to Paris knowing that, regardless of what transpires in Rome between Italy and England, they have a shot at snatching a fourth Six Nations crown in seven years.
Ireland currently sit a point ahead of England in the Six Nations table and have a points difference advantage of +23.
If Eddie Jones' side fail to beat Italy by more than that margin, then any sort of victory for Ireland in Paris will suffice.
SIX NATIONS TABLE
Should England dispatch Italy by a cricket score, a distinct possibility given the recent form of the two teams, then the odds will lengthen considerably on an Ireland Six Nations victory.
A four-try bonus point win may then be required, a particularly tall order at a venue where Ireland have historically struggled to manage any variety of win.
Ireland did win in their last Six Nations visit to Paris, the famous 'Le Drop' game, though Sexton acknowledges that there's a lot of water under the bridge since that evening.
"A lot has happened since. It does feel like a long, long time ago," the out-half told reporters at today's press conference.
"But it's great to be back in that situation where we have a trophy on the line. We know that it's in our own hands in many ways, no matter what happens in the game before.
We'll still be going onto the pitch being able to win the trophy. It's what we play for. We train hard for these big days and we're looking forward to it. If we can get our performance right, it gives us a chance.
"We just have to wait and see. All we can control at the moment is our performance. We need to get our performance right. If it's a win or just a bonus point win, we're still going to play well no matter what. So, let's just focus on that aspect and hopefully if we perform well, we'll give ourselves chances and then it's up to us to take those chances on the day and be clinical."
The verdict was mixed on Ireland's 50-17 win over Italy in the Aviva Stadium last weekend, with the hosts producing passages of slick attacking play but also moments of costly carelessness. Sexton is loath to pinpoint any particular area of play that needs work following the encounter.
"There wasn't one thing in particular. Our defence for 90% of the game was good and there were a couple of things that let them back into it. And there were a couple of things in our attack that were really good.
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"There's not one area of our game that we're trying to work on. We're working on all areas and that includes set-piece, starter play, attack, there was some good stuff, there was some average stuff.
"It's all parts of our game. We weren't perfect in any, we weren't terribly bad either. We just know we're going to have to be a lot better on Saturday."
France technically remain in the hunt for the Six Nations title, though their prospects appear more remote, as they would need to beat Ireland by a larger margin than England would against Italy.
After three rounds of the campaign, the French appeared on course for their first Grand Slam for a decade but they were stopped in their tracks by a surprise loss in Murrayfield just before the competition was suspended.
Still, under the direction of new coach Fabien Galthie, Les Blues seem at last rejuvenated after years of baffling stasis and frustrating false starts.
They impressed in a 38-21 dismissal of Wales in a warm-up game last weekend and Sexton is especially wary of their numerous back-line threats.
"It's their ability to score out of nothing and that just points to the individual flair that they have, particularly Dupont and N'tamack at half-backs. You saw them against Wales last week and it looks like Wales are defending well and then out of nowhere, they're gone.
"Vakatawa has been in great form, Fickou has been doing well so from a backs point of view, they've got threats throughout. So, we're going to have be unbelievably connected and together because if you show them those dog-legs in defence or big gaps, they'll be through pretty quick.
"And then up front, they've got lots of power, they've got big men. It's a big ask. We know that but we're preparing ourselves for a big performance."
The game will be played before an empty stadium which, given the legendary fickleness of the French crowd, Sexton could be viewed as either a positive or negative for a visiting side.
"It depends what way you look at it. You could say (it's a positive). But I've been in the Stade de France before when the crowd have turned on them and then it can become a positive for us and a negative for them.
"It's more like a neutral venue. They've had a weekend playing there last weekend and they'll be familiar with it. Obviously, we'd prefer to play in an empty stadium than play with 80,000 French supporters.
"But still it's not ideal. Part of me wishes there was a crowd there. We miss the supporters but hopefully we won't be too long getting them back out."
