Who wants it more?
Ireland and Australia are desperate for a win and with both operating nowhere near their best, this could simply come down to a battle of wills.
This November international match-up is always a feast for the eyes, the brilliant green and gold contrast visually pleasing and embellished under the stadium floodlights.
The nighttime kick-off helps build the atmosphere too.
Expect a much livelier crowd than last Saturday come 8.10pm this evening as the two tribes go at it.
When the action starts it will be a case of who can shake off the dust first.
Ireland faded badly in the loss to New Zealand and came good late on in an underwhelming win against Japan.
Australia, meanwhile, lost to both England and Italy in their 12th and 13th outings of the year. They look a tired bunch.
But they are still an outfit that, within the last three and half months, have beaten the British and Irish Lions and world champions South Africa.
Additionally, the Lions needed a last-play winner in the second Test, while the Wallabies were within two points of the All Blacks with six minutes to play in Eden Park.
When they hit their straps, they can compete with and beat the best.
"We've got to demonstrate that real fight that we've demonstrated earlier in the season," said Joe Schmidt.
How they would dearly love to win for their head coach, who is likely overseeing a Test side for the last time against the country he led to new heights during his reign from 2013 to 2019.
The Australians, who start as 10-point underdogs, also have the added incentive of World Rugby rankling points up for grabs.
Ireland are secure in the top six and can’t rise higher than their current third place today, but it’s different for the Wallabies, who are in seventh.
A first win in Dublin since 2013, combined with a Scotland win over Argentina, would see Australia move into sixth, and into Band 1 for the World Cup draw on 3 December.
Australia have lost their last two visits here, going down 13-10 in 2022 and, under Schmidt last year, 22-19. They face France, always pumped up at Stade de France, in their final autumn game.
The New Zealander couldn’t hide his disappointment after the game 12 months ago, feeling his side left a victory behind.
"I’ve no doubt, knowing him, that he’ll have been eyeing this fixture up for a while," said Farrell about his former boss’s motivation this evening.
Among six changes, they’ve brought back Len Ikitau into the centre and he partners up with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, while Rob Valetini returns to the back row as they seek a cutting edge that was lacking in last weekend’s 26-19 defeat in Udine.
In contrast to Ireland, who have two clear options at out-half, Schmidt has used five 10s this year and late call-up James O'Connor is leading the backline today.
Only Wales at 6 have averaged fewer attacking 22 entries per game than the Wallabies 7.2 this year.
Australia lost 15 turnovers last week, missed 21 tackles, and were punished by Paolo Garbisi kicking four of 12 penalties conceded.
Their set-piece is solid, including a 92% lineout return last weekend and their 2025 overall scrum success runs at 99%, the best of the tier one sides.
Schmidt will have a plan in place to attack Ireland’s vulnerable lineout and getting an early steal, similar to the last two weekends, would once again hit the Irish pack’s confidence.
Ireland v Australia: All you need to know
"They’ll obviously be hurting from last week and they’ve got a couple of players coming in from the outside that probably have no baggage and have nothing to lose," said Farrell after making nine changes to the starting XV, while handing a first start to loosehead Paddy McCarty, and naming Sam Prendergast at 10.
"[They'll] want to right some wrongs and when you look at their athletic ability and capability as a team, it makes them dangerous."
The absence of Josh van der Flier with a hamstring injury allows Farrell to play two heavyweight carriers in Caelan Doris and Jack Conan at the same time to get go-forward ball, while Mack Hansen gets a first Test shot at full-back against the country of his birth.
Farrell couldn’t declare that his side will be hungrier than their opponents.
"Well, we’ll see, that’s up to us, isn’t it," he said in another message to his troops.
The squad know they owe the boss a big performance but that also applies to today’s visitors.
Both teams have room for improvement and it could be that the wounded Wallabies might want this one a little bit more. If that proves true, Ireland could be in trouble.
Verdict: Australia
Ireland: Mack Hansen; Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Paddy McCarthy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Nick Timoney, Cian Prendergast, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Bundee Aki.
Australia: Max Jorgensen; Filipo Daugunu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter; James O'Connor, Jake Gordon; Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa; Jeremy Williams, Tom Hooper; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Zane Nonggorr, Nick Frost, Carlo Tizzano, Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway.
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
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Watch Ireland v Australia in the Quilter Nations Series from 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
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