Ireland captain Rory Best believes Finlay Bealham is ready to seize the opening Cian Healy's hamstring strain has presented him against Italy on Saturday (1.30pm).
Healy, whose championship has been decimated by the recurring injury, pulled out of the Aviva Stadium 6 Nations clash on Friday, with Joe Schmidt calling on Connacht prop Bealham to take the Leinster man's place on the bench.
The Australian-born 24-year-old has played four times for Ireland U20s and twice for the Emerging Ireland side, and is now set to make his full Test debut.
“He’s really impressed, his knowledge and his want to improve," Best told RTÉ Sport.
"Obviously when guys come in everyone wants to play in that first week. He hasn't, and he hasn't been involved in the first three games but he’s always come in and worked hard he’s a good guy to have around the place.
VIDEO: Finlay Bealham will be ready for his first cap, says Simon Easterby #rterugby #IrevItahttps://t.co/J0qbcTqiwy
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"It’s really disappointing for Cian. I know Cian really really well at this stage and it’s hugely frustrating, it’s just a little niggle for him.
"But for his benefit it’s important not to risk these things. It gives Finlay a chance and we’ve every faith that Finlay, when called upon, will do a great job for us.
"He just has to get his stuff right and enjoy it. It does go in a flash. He’ll think it’ll drag but when he looks back it does go in a flash.
"When you come off the bench, before you step onto the pitch, just savour the crowd, savour that moment and when you get into it try not to force it, just do what you’ve done that’s got you there."
Best talked up the importance of Ireland's strength in depth as an attritional, bruising campaign stretches Schmdit's resources to the limit.
The Ulster man also knows his team badly need a home victory to lift morale, and called on supporters to create a cauldron of noise to crush the Azzurri resistance.
“We know we need a big squad... right up to the 11th hour. Paulie in Joe’s first championship was sick the night before the first game.
"Squad depth is vital but guys knowing what they need to know and being on deck right up to the kick-off is also important.
“We feel we’re in a position to get a win. We need to improve and Italy are going to provide a really really stern test.
"They’re a good side. They will look at it as a great opportunity against an Ireland side who haven’t won a game in this championship. We know we have to perform.
“We thrive on an atmosphere but we have to give the fans something to get behind us to create that atmosphere.
"The small margins are massive. We need to make sure we swing those back in our favour – you swing htose back in your favour by being better than we have in this championship.”
Follow Ireland v Italy LIVE from 12.30pm on RTÉ2, from 1pm on RTÉ 2fm (2nd half on Radio 1) and via the live blog on the RTÉ News Now app and RTÉ.ie.
