These are unchartered waters for Irish rugby.
There was a sense of disappointment last year Ireland were denied back-to-back Grand Slams, a pumped-up England denying the men in green at the death in Twickenham.
Marcus Smith's last-gasp heroics remain arguably the high point of the Steve Borthwick era, but one defeat in two years is a decent place from which Ireland are heading into the 2025 Championship.
No team has won three on the spin since Italy joined the competition in 2000, and Simon Easterby has the chance to make history as he steps into Andy Farrell’s shoes.
The 49-year-old took over from Farrell after the Autumn Series as the head coach concentrates on Lions duties, and speaking at the launch of the Six Nations today, admitted that the challenge facing his team is a highly-motivating one.
"Because it’s never been done, it’s pretty difficult to do," he said. "That’s exciting in a way. It’s a challenge, something that would be an unbelievable achievement if it happened.
"I’m massively motivated by that challenge, as are the players, but we also understand that we have to get a lot of things right to make sure that happens."
First up is a meeting with the aforementioned English, with Steve Borthwick’s side travelling to Dublin.
Ireland are then on the road to Edinburgh and Cardiff before France arrive on Irish soil looking to improve on successive runners-up places to the hosts.
Italy round off the campaign, but much will hinge on the opening weekend and how Ireland, inconsistent in autumn and winning the competition last year but without the same conviction as 12 months previous come out of the traps.
The pressure of being targeted by Six Nations rivals isn’t something that fazes Easterby.
"If we’re being chased down, that’s because we have set some good standards, but we need to keep evolving, keep moving on as a team," he said.
"I think the internal motivation the players have to get better has always been the case. The players want to keep pushing, stay ahead of the pack because we have to if we want to win again this year."
Watch Dragons v Munster in the URC on Saturday from 7.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Watch Ulster v Zebre in the URC on Sunday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
