Ireland still have plenty of respect for New Zealand but the days of putting them on a pedestal are long gone, says winger Tommy O'Brien.
Andy Farrell's side take on the All Blacks on Saturday in Chicago (8pm Irish time), the scene of the famous 2016 clash when Ireland beat New Zealand for the first time in 111 years.
Including that 40-29 victory, the teams have shared five wins apiece in their last 10 meetings.
Ireland's most recent success came in the last Test in 2022, a 32-22 victory that secured a historic series win.
But the three-time world champions gained revenge for that slight in the World Cup quarter-final of 2023, while they also beat Ireland 23-13 last November in Dublin.
It's fair to say that they have build up a compelling rivalry in the last decade with New Zealand, who traditionally had little respect for Ireland, acknowledging that the dynamic has changed.
"We don't put anyone on a pedestal," said O'Brien, who scored two tries against both Georgia and Portugal on his first and second Ireland caps last summer and, with Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan out injured, is in line to feature at Soldier Field.
"Everyone has very fond memories of 2016 and there are a few guys now who were involved.
"I was just out of school, but I remember watching it and being delighted with the guys.
"I have a very vivid memory of it, so to have a chance to potentially be involved in something like that would be incredible.
"That New Zealand team would have come off the back of the 2015 and 2011 World Cups, so they were an incredibly successful team.
"I guess that was the breaking of the barrier in 2016 and we've managed to beat them a couple of times since.
"We're looking forward to the challenge of facing them, but no fear of them."
Leinster wing O'Brien, 27, is a relatively latecomer to the international scene with his progress halted by a series of injuries over the last number of years.
He's one of the fastest backs in the country and his form over the last 12 months has made him a starter for Leinster in their big games, while Farrell believes he's ready to step up to the next level.
"Once you get to this level you have to be aware that everyone is going to be very good," said the Dubliner, who has scored 15 tries in 49 provincial appearances.
"I have to focus on what I do best and hopefully that will do the job.
"You probably do become a bit more mature [coming into Ireland camp relatively late] and as a result you have a bit more of an understanding of everything.
"Obviously it is something you have been working your whole life towards and it is the pinnacle, playing in these kinds of games."
Among the outside backs named in Scott Robertson's squad, who finished second in the Rugby Championship, are experienced players like Will Jordan, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Caleb Clarke and Sevu Reece, while Leroy Carter and Ruben Love are options.
"From a wing perspective, I guess, I'm just obviously getting my head around everything and making sure, but I like to be someone that tries to get involved," added O'Brien.
"[The coaching staff] talk about almost positionless players, so everyone has the ability to do each other's roles, and so that you don't have to be hanging out in your wing the whole time.
"You have to license to roam. You can hang out at the back of shapes.
"Defensively, that's something I'd pride myself on and [Andy Farrell] obviously has a big background in so that's just about learning the art of the system and making sure I can implement that as well as I possibly can."
