Andy Farrell expects nothing but the best from his Ireland side in the opening game of their Rugby World Cup warm-up programme, as they welcome Italy to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The Ireland head coach has picked a largely second-string XV for Saturday's Bank of Ireland Nations Series game with Jack Crowley handed the keys to the backline at out-half and the likes of Tom O'Toole, Joe McCarthy, Craig Casey, Jacob Stockdale and Jimmy O'Brien given opportunities to impress.
There's a wide range of Test experience in the squad; six of the matchday squad have played more than 50 times for Ireland, while nine of the group have fewer than ten caps.
Farrell's team selections have been largely consistent in recent seasons, with last November's win against Fiji a rare occasion where he's made experimental selections. On that day Ireland were comfortable winners against the Fijians, but the head coach was left frustrated by an overall sloppy performance.
Saturday's opening warm-up game could be a final chance to impress for those looking to make a late break into the final 33-man squad for the World Cup, and Farrell says he expects them to rise to the occasion.
"That's the challenge of being an international player," Farrell (below) said.
"We’ve had six weeks together, which we don’t normally get. We normally get 12 days before a Six Nations or before an autumn [campaign], that probably correlates to about five training sessions. We've six weeks together, albeit we've had a week off here and there.
"We expect to be at our best. It doesn't matter what the combinations are because we've had plenty of time to be able to make sure that we adapt to that.
"I think we're at a stage where we're all gagging for a game and you are judging constantly how preparation's going and trying to balance that out with a side that's got the experience and youth, that you're able to put out at the weekend to judge properly.
"I'm 100% sure there are some individuals that will take the field saying to themselves, 'this a big chance and big opportunity for me'. You've got to surround those people with good enough experienced players as well to be able to judge them properly, so we're looking forward to that."
As well as the many changes in the starting side, Farrell has also included three potential debutants on the bench in the form of Ciarán Frawley, Tom Stewart and Calvin Nash.
It will be an overdue first cap for Frawley who would almost certainly have featured in a Test before now but for injury.
"He has been unfortunate but at the same time he's trained really well and deserved the opportunity for crack at it and the same for the other two lads [Stewart and Nash], so look we've had plenty of debutants over the last few years, it's super-exciting for us all and it's something we'll celebrate this evening," Farrell added.
Frawley (above) looks set to cover both out-half and centre off the bench, with Crowley given a chance to plant his flag in the squad, starting in the No 10 jersey.
The Munster star will earn a fourth cap and Farrell has been impressed with how the 23-year-old has progressed through this summer's camp.
"He has been going great. I have seen his confidence grow, obviously from what happened with Munster, being able to help navigate his team through those difficult periods at the end and get some success. I have seen his confidence grow.
"The selection at the start of the week for all the players is interesting, isn’t it, because as coaches you’re seeing everyone really get stuck in and really driving to get better every single day.
"The minute that selection comes, it’s a different week as far as managing the team and being the main general, as far as Jack is concerned.
"We have been keeping a close eye on that and he has been excellent so far, excellent so far. A day off today [Thursday], in this season, captain’s run tomorrow, hopefully the confidence continues."
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