Putting in a creditable performance against Scotland should be the primary focus for Ireland in their final Women's Six Nations fixture on Saturday rather than being distracted by the potential for World Cup qualification, according to former captain Fiona Coghlan.
The Irish team are coming off the back of a 78-point defeat to England and sit second from bottom in the table.
But a win over the Scots in Belfast would give Scott Bemand's side a chance at finishing third which would be enough to secure automatic qualification to the next World Cup, having missed the Covid-delayed 2021 edition of the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the Scotland match, which will be live on RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player on Saturday afternoon, Coghlan warned that the main target for Ireland should be to bounce back from the English result with a strong performance level against a somewhat depleted Scottish outfit.
"The fact it's at home is huge. We're looking to hit another record crowd as well which is brilliant," she told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"We beat them there two years ago, Scotland are missing some of their backs. Chloe Rollie is suspended for three weeks and two of their backs, (Lisa) Thompson and Rhona Lloyd are gone with the GB Sevens so certainly those types of things fall in Ireland's favour.
"But it depends on the character in the squad. Can they bounce back from that humiliating defeat against England and what sort of shape they're in.
"I think it'll be a really evenly matched match and I think it's well within Ireland's capabilities if mentally they're prepared and have the right game plan in place.
"So I don't think the focus should be on that World Cup qualification. I think it should be on just going out and trying to win that game and then whatever happens outside that is outside their hands.
"If they look at themselves and how they perform, I think they are in with a good shout to win the game."
While Ireland and Scotland vie for a third-place finish with Italy, who take on Wales earlier on Saturday, the championship decider will be between England and France. Coghlan, who captained Ireland to Grand Slam glory in 2013, feels England will do likewise even in a tough away environment.
"I think it's nearly a three-tier competition at the moment," she said.
"England have absolutely been phenomenal, particularly against Ireland. Everything kind of clicked for them.
"They're playing such amazing rugby with some superstars within that team. The only caveat is going away to Bordeaux.
"It's an intimidating place to go. But France haven't really hit their straps at all.
"They've a very young squad as well, so I think on current form, England look like the favourites to lift that Grand Slam again."
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Watch Ireland v Scotland in the Guinness Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Ulster v Benetton (Friday 7.35pm) and Dragons v Connacht (Saturday 7.35pm) in the BKT United Rugby Championship on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
