Donal Lenihan is enthused by Andy Farrell's Ireland selection and expects the team to overcome the test posed by a talented Japan team.
Ireland host Japan for the second time in 2021 on Saturday, having collided with the Brave Blossoms in a whirlwind encounter in front of 3,000 spectators in the Aviva Stadium in early July.
An Ireland side shorn of their absent Lions tourists eventually edged past a characteristically gung-ho and flamboyant Japan side.
Remarkably, that was only Japan's second game since their World Cup quarter-final exit against South Africa 20 months ago - the first having been played only a week before against Lions.
"That was an incredible game, Ireland just about got over the line by eight points in the end," Lenihan told RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland.
"Two weeks ago they lost to Australia - who, bear in mind, came second in the Rugby Championship - and they were only four points behind with two minutes left in the game. Australia got a try and so they only lost 32-23 in the end.
"They're a quality team, they've a different skillset to a lot of other sides. In terms of crowds returning to the Aviva, it's the first time we're going to be close to full capacity. There were only 3,000 to see them last July. They're a brilliant team to watch, because of the way they play the game."
The former Irish lock expects Ireland to once again navigate the test of the Japanese and says he's excited by the team that Farrell has picked, especially the forwards.
Mobility has been prioritised, with Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan all starting, while Ronan Kelleher is preferred to Rob Herring, whose seat on the bench has also been taken by Dan Sheehan.
"I expect Ireland to win. We didn't have our Lions on board when we beat them last July. They're all back on board, albeit Conor Murray and Iain Henderson are on the bench. As I say, I expect Ireland to win but Japan ask different types of questions.
"In some respects, it'll be an interesting game before New Zealand because New Zealand also play this high-tempo, offloading game so it's going to a good test.
"I'm excited by the Irish selection, particularly up front. A lot of ball players in the pack, it looks a very mobile pack.
"I'd expect Iain Henderson to get back in for New Zealand. Conor Murray has had only 21 minutes of rugby. I would imagine he'll come on in the second half with a view to starting against New Zealand."
And it's a landmark game for Johnny Sexton, who becomes the seventh Irish player to reach 100 caps, after Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes, Rory Best and Cian Healy.
"I remember his first game against Fiji in the RDS in lashing rain back in 2009," recalls Lenihan.
"He's had to fight for everything throughout his career and he's still going strong at 36. The pretenders haven't been able to knock him off his perch."
Follow Ireland's November internationals v Japan, New Zealand and Argentina via our live blogs on RTÉ.ie/sport or the RTÉ News app, or watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
