Tadhg Furlong says Ireland must "play the game and not the occasion", when they kick off their Guinness Six Nations finale against England this Saturday, although he says the players will be hugely motivated by the chance of winning a Grand Slam on home soil.
Ireland have never completed a Grand Slam in Dublin, with the 2009 and 2018 victories coming in Cardiff and Twickenham, while their first ever win in 1948 was completed at Ravenhill rather than Lansdowne Road.
Likewise, they've also never been able to lift the Six Nations trophy on home soil - in the professional era - with their 2014 and 2015 titles also coming on the road.
With the final round of the championship falling as it always does on St Patrick's weekend, and England the visitors to the Aviva Stadium, Furlong says there's motivation for Ireland at almost every corner.
"It's massive, I think the occasion obviously adds to it from a player perspective, in the dressing room there's a bounce about it," he says.
"It's all carrot and no stick, if that makes sense. It's on us to play the game and not the occasion, and that's at the forefront of our mind.
And while he says the players won't get caught up in the occasion on the day, they have to allow themselves enjoy the experience of preparing for a Grand Slam decider.
"It's all on the line. If you’re not excited about playing this weekend, why are you playing the sport, what are you doing?
"I think the group is very excited and everyone is different within that. Some people love going out there and showing how good they are. There’s other people that maybe find themselves that they get small on that attention or pressure.
"I think we’ve a very good balance in the squad where we can talk about that to get the most out of each other. It’s about enjoying the week. Enjoying the build-up, but also doing the work."
The tighthead prop got through a busy 65-minute shift against Scotland on Sunday, his first game since early December after a persistent calf injury.
He came through the win at Murrayfield unscathed and is good to go again this weekend, against an English side who have a point to prove after a heavy 53-10 defeat to France on Saturday.
With Ireland on a nine game winning run, and unbeaten at the Aviva Stadium for more than two years, Andy Farrell's side will be big favourites to complete a fourth Grand Slam success in style.
In the past, that tag may have weighed heavy on an Irish side, but Furlong says rankings don't matter when they sit down to analyse the opposition.
"I think people are different. The younger people coming through the sport now as people are a little bit different than... definitely when Church [Cian Healy] came through. They have a little bit more self confidence about them.
"Number one in the world it doesn't really factor into our heads a whole lot. Every time you go on to the pitch you have to prove something. We've worked very hard and every time we take to the pitch we have to, not only protect that, but try to keep growing as well."
A win on Saturday would give Furlong a second Grand Slam, while he was also a member of the extended squad that won a Six Nations in 2015.
And he says it would be extra special to be able to do it in front of a home crowd.
"We talk about it, we understand and from the wider public as well. You just hope us wearing a green jersey and playing well, that people can be proud to be Irish and can associate with us.
"I understand that everyone is not rugby people, and that’s fine if rugby is not your cup of tea. I hope that they can see through our actions that it means something to us. It means something to play for Ireland, no matter if you’re within the island of Ireland or if you’re Irish living abroad or whatever.
"Just to see that it means something to us and hopefully they can be proud of us."
Listen to live radio commentary of Ireland v England (Saturday 5pm) on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, and follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.
