Johnny Sexton says complacency will not be an issue for Ireland in this Saturday's Six Nations opener against Wales [live on RTÉ2].
While Wales come into the game as defending champions, they do so in the midst of a lengthy injury list, with Alun Wyn Jones, George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau among those ruled out of the start of the tournament.
However, there were similar clouds over Welsh rugby ahead of the championship 12 months ago, when Wayne Pivac's side were without a number of frontline players, as well as struggling for form, before a win against Ireland in Cardiff on the opening weekend sparked their run to the title.
Speaking from their training base in Portugal, Ireland captain Sexton insisted they won't be swayed by Wales' inexperience.
"We haven't spoken too much about who they're missing; we've spoken about who they've got.
"They played November with a lot of the same injuries and picked up some good results and good performances. They had some injuries in the Six Nations last year and ended up winning it.
"We haven't spoken about it too much; we're just preparing to play against a very good Welsh team that's had a great run of form over the last year. We see a big tough test ahead, and that's what we're playing for."
When pressed about whether or not Ireland should be favourites, the Ireland captain added it would be disrespectful to Wales for Ireland to think like that.
"I'm not going to say that, because then I'm insulting the guys coming in, and the guys coming are excellent players. The guys who are injured have big reputations because they played multiple tests for their country and performed week in and week out.
"The guys coming in are at the start of their journeys and could go on and have the same careers as the guys ahead of them.
"So there's not one ounce of complacency in our squad. We've seen the calibre of player they're missing but they've got some excellent players to come in and replace them," he added.
Ireland's trio of wins in November against New Zealand, Argentina and Japan have created high expectations for 2022, with the style of rugby - as well as their recent results - earning praise.
However, Sexton says that expectation will only fuel their ambition, rather than see them take their foot off the pedal.
"The mood has been good. It helps when you come in off the back of a good November, a very happy camp.
"We spoke about trying to take it to a new level, and it's been a fantastic environment to be a part of in the last two years.
"It's really changed, but we've figured out ways to push it on and make it better in terms of our performances, and we've been working hard, it hasn't been all slapping each other on the back.
"When you come in the door of Irish camp you're expected to hit certain standards and the guys doing that day in and day out at training are the guys who will get picked. The guys who don’t, won’t. That’s it in a nutshell.
"The proof will be in the pudding on Saturday. If we put in a good performance then we were fresh and good to go. If we don’t play well and lose people will say we were undercooked. You are judged by the result and performance, but there is no excuse."
Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live TV coverage of Ireland v Wales (5 February, 2.15pm) and England v Ireland (12 March, 4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.
