If there was any sense that Ireland and Andy Farrell could be lulled into thinking Saturday's meeting with Wales at the Aviva Stadium was a done deal, the Ireland coach's team selection will have nipped that theory in the bud.
The big hitters are all back after four of them were either rested or not risked against Italy due to minor knocks; Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, captain Peter O'Mahony and Bundee Aki all return, while Josh van der Flier and Jamison Gibson-Park come in from the bench.
With Ciarán Frawley coming in at full-back for the injured Hugo Keenan, it shows 14 of the 15 starters from the bonus-point win against France in week one. Just like that night in Marseille, Farrell has gone with a 6:2 split on the bench, a further nod to how seriously he's taking this game.
"We view them in the highest regard," Farrell says of Wales, who have lost narrowly to both Scotland and England in their opening games.
"It's a Test match. It's a war of attrition and they're going to give it absolutely everything they've got.
"We've got to manage ourselves from the start of the game to the end in the best way possible, really, because if we don't we'll come unstuck, really, there's no doubt about that."
For what's traditionally been a close, back and forth rivalry, the last couple of years have seen a gulf emerge between Ireland and Wales.
While Wales defeated Ireland in Cardiff in 2021 during their surprise title win, Ireland have won their other meetings since the 2019 World Cup, by 10, 23, 22 and 24 points respectively.
There's no denying Warren Gatland's side are coming to Dublin in hope rather than expectation, and while they visit the defending champions off the back of a pair of defeats, Farrell says the scorelines don't necessarily give a true reflection.
"We obviously know what they've been talking about, coming out of the blocks and causing chaos and we know it's going to be a fight, we know they're going to make it as tough as possible for us.
"But what we always concentrate on is ourselves and making sure that we put our game to the match, whoever it is that we're playing.
"We have full respect in regard to what Wales are going to bring because they're always unbelievably hard to beat and we expect them to be chomping at the bit.
"The two performances that they had, they could be coming here with two wins and no losses so we know exactly what we're up against," he added.
Frawley's skills as a utility back have allowed Farrell the flexibility to go with a 6:2 bench split for the second time in the tournament, with Ireland having been reluctant to take the forward-heavy option in previous seasons.
To make it work requires a lot of forward planning. If one of Calvin Nash or James Lowe picks up an injury on the wing, it's likely that Jamison Gibson-Park will move out wide, with Conor Murray coming in at scrum-half.
If Jack Crowley picks up a knock, Frawley can cover 10, with Nash or Lowe able to drop into the back-field.
"You can’t cover every permutation at all," Farrell insists. "All you can do is understand your squad, how much game time and minutes such and such a body has had, and try pick accordingly to make sure that you’re full steam ahead for the 80 minutes.
"Now, we know the perfect scenarios that should unfold, whether it’s a 5:3 split or a 6:2 split, but we know that rugby is never going to be that way, so you cover all those different permutations and I think we’re at a point now where the lads love it.
"To be able to put them in different positions and understand what that takes to be able to perform in that position is enlightening to them and refreshing as well. So they’re excited about it.
"Again, we’ve traditionally gone with a 5:3 split for a long time but some of those players can only play in one position, these players can play in multiple positions and we’re happy with where we’re at."
The expectation was that Farrell (above) would stick with the tried and tested options in this Six Nations, and while that appears to have been the plan, circumstances have dictated otherwise.
Injuries before the tournament, and in the opening two games, have seen doors open for the likes of Calvin Nash and now Frawley, while Crowley and Joe McCarthy have stepped up to the starting team.
While Oli Jager comes onto the bench for a potential debut, his is a rare example of someone who has had a short apprenticeship, although the 28-year-old's extensive Super Rugby experience gave him a leg up in that respect.
With Nash, Frawley, Crowley and McCarthy, all four have been part of the squad for at least a year, and Farrell believes that leads to a more organic introduction to Test rugby.
"It will always be the case and it has been the case as regards bringing people in because throwing people in at the deep end isn't fair, I know that from my experience as a youngster playing. I had a very experienced coach who gave me my debut.
"To throw five or six or seven of them in one go can be dangerous or detrimental.
"The master at the time was [Wigan coach] John Monie who brought me through and he used to say, 'just a couple' because those type of players, it doesn't matter what age they are now, as far as the experience is concerned, they need looking after in a good side and what we've tried to do is keep people connected that we see down the road, discerning their potential on whether they grow by coming in."
The latest addition to the wider squad is Munster Tom Ahern, who got his first taste of Farrell's set-up.
And the Ireland coach says he's been impressed with the versatile forward.
"So again, Thomas Ahern has been in this week and looked really good, I'm sure that he's going to learn a lot as Oli [Jager] did.
"That's the plan, that's how it should keep on rolling for us, so therefore when you say there's a third or a quarter of the team that's new, they're not really new to us."
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