By Saturday evening, we'll have an early idea of how well Ireland can deal with the target on their backs.
In the past, and in particular four years ago, the expectation has proven too much, but the way in which both players and coaches have spoken this week has indicated a willingness to embrace the challenge, rather than pretend it doesn't exist.
Johnny Sexton and Hugo Keenan have both spoken of taking the next step in this team's development and winning some silverware, Tadhg Beirne says the favourites tag is "exciting" rather than daunting, while Andrew Porter described moving on from the feelings of anxiousness and worry before big games.
In 2019 and 2017, there were several days of debate around whether or not to keep the lid on the Principality Stadium in the lead-up to Ireland's Six Nations visits to Cardiff, a topic that dominated the narrative of the week.
In particular, Ireland were made to regret their insistence that the roof would remain open, on their terms. and Joe Schmidt's side were swept away by Wales in atrocious conditions, before the Ireland coach later admitted it was probably a mistake.
There was no such drama this year. Ireland and Wales happily agreed to close the roof. And while it's likely to drive up the noise levels in Cardiff, and potentially make things harder for Farrell's side, the head coach says he welcomes any additional adversity.
"It's nothing to do with the conditions," the Ireland head coach (above) said on Thursday.
"We want to embrace it and learn from it, and keep progressing because it's certainly what's coming down the road.
"I don't know if what's coming down the road is going to be bigger and better, it will have to go some to beat the atmosphere in Cardiff, so these are the moments you relish, that you look forward to.
"Hopefully you walk into the stadium with a good, strong body language that says, 'this is where I want to be'. That's the next step for our lads."
With a gameplan that's become more reliant on players making decisions in the moment, their approach to preparation follows similar patterns. Sometimes, rugby can go off script.
"I used an example [recently] of Man City playing Leeds away this year. A lot of superstars were in that City side and Leeds went for them, physically went after them and it's a tough old place to go, Leeds is. It’s hostile."
Several players have namechecked performance coach Gary Keegan in the last 12 months for his work with the side's mental approach to the game. The former performance director of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association came on board in late 2020, aiming to address what was described as "performance anxiety" in the squad in the 2019 World Cup.
"I think it's where we can make the biggest strides," he added.
"I think we’ve made a start, I don’t think we’re anywhere near where we can get to. The game is a very emotional one, and being able to control those emotions so that we can control those emotions so that we can do what we say we’re going to do is key to us.
"It's the same as Johnny pulling out the last game (against Australia). It's great for us, learning, adapting, making sure we build trust in others.
"That's absolutely key to building the strength of the squad with the year we've got ahead of us."
The next step for Farrell is to turn a good team into a great team, and he's widening his search around the sporting world to find out what sets the best apart from the rest, picking the mind of Alex Ferguson.
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"Yeah, he's an impressive man isn’t he, there’s an aura about him. Respect," he says, of his meetings with the former Manchester United manager over the years.
"I'd seen how people coped with it [pressure]. I’m obsessed with why teams keep being successful, why they are able to stay at the top because everyone is trying to hunt them down.
"The Manchester Uniteds of the golden years. I’m a Manchester City supporter but I was in awe of how they kept on winning title after title, because it’s so hard to do and the mentality and the fight to want to go out and attack the game in your manner is pretty key."
And with Ireland heading into a hostile atmosphere against a big underdog this Saturday, the Man City fan has also been taking inspiration from his football team.
"I used an example [recently] of Man City playing Leeds away this year. A lot of superstars were in that City side and Leeds went for them, physically went after them and it’s a tough old place to go, Leeds is. It’s hostile.
"Leeds were playing unbelievably well and I thought, 'wow, City, we’re going to see the character of the side here’. And City went after them, broke them, 1-0, broke them 2-0, game over 3-0.
"It takes a strong character, a strong mentality as a team to go to somebody’s back yard that means a lot to them and play your own game.
"The old adage of the atmosphere, the occasion, whatever is coming our way... finding a way is something we've been pretty good at in the last 12 months. We'll need to be calm enough, composed enough to be able to do that."
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Follow our live blog of Wales v Ireland (Saturday 2.15pm) on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch live coverage of England v Scotland (Saturday 4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
