Caelan Doris last night insisted 'there's no way we've maxed out' as a record 30,000 Irish fans travel in hope to the Stadio Olimpico on Super Saturday.
To retain the Six Nations title, Ireland must beat Italy with a try bonus point in Rome (2.15pm Irish time), then they will settle in at the post-match banquet to watch England's attempt to get ahead in the title race with a try bonus point in Cardiff (4.45pm).
If England fail in their task, Ireland must then pray that Scotland can overturn table-toppers and hot championship favourites France in the last game of the tournament in Paris (8pm Irish time).
Last Saturday's damaging loss to France in Dublin obliterated the hosts' Grand Slam dream but also highlighted the issues in Ireland's game.
"You look at any one player and there’s no way we’ve maxed out our potential," argued skipper Doris. "I know from how I've gone through this campaign that I feel like I still have a lot more in me and it’s the same across the board with a lot of the lads.
"Even from an individual point of view, getting our performances up five, 10% will contribute a lot to a better team performance. But collectively I feel there’s a lot more growth in us.”
With the capacity of the iconic Stadio Olimpico set at 72,698, it is predicted that around 40% of the crowd will be made up of away supporters. "We've been told that there will be 25,000 to 30,000 Irish fans here," said an IRFU insider.
Many Irish fans booked the trip well in advance of the championship in the hope that their heroes would claim an historic third consecutive Six Nations title - and the Grand Slam - on St Patrick's weekend in the ancient city. But if the top three in the standings all win today then Ireland will have to settle for third place.
"It’s class," said Doris of the numbers supporting the team. "The 2023 World Cup was unbelievable in terms of the support, I think the travelling support we get is often louder and more boisterous maybe than some of the home support we get.
"Massively excited for that and to hear them here and for it to be full and close to half if not more Irish people there. It’s very special. I’ve family and friends traveling, so I’m looking forward to having them here."
Simon Easterby selected his matchday 23 on Thursday, with Jack Crowley's return at No.10 one of six changes to the line-up. "There's quite a bit of an onus on the 10s in our environment in running the attack, liaising with Goodie (Andrew Goodman)," Doris remarked.
"He's done a great job. Sam (Prendergast) has been very good in the first few weeks but Crowler as well, they're both confident lads, both capable of taking a walk-through or having attack points mid-training and they both have a good head on their shoulders. So yeah, he's been good this week."
Cian Healy, who has been omitted from the squad and so played his final Test game last weekend, is with the travelling party and took part in yesterday afternoon's captain's run at the stadium in case of any late withdrawals.
Winger James Lowe had to withdraw from the line-up just before kick-off last week after suffering a back spasm in the warm-up.
Interim head coach Easterby has done a solid job in Andy Farrell's absence due to being on loan to the British and Irish Lions until the autumn.
"He’s such a big presence," said the 28-year-old. "His emotional tone, just having him there, the respect he has, he’s definitely a big presence but Si has been unbelievable.
"I would have said at the start of the tournament that he’s got a lot of the qualities that you’d want in a head coach and we’ve seen even more of that throughout.
"The way he’s led meetings, the way he’s dealt with players, player management, leading sessions, I think everything’s been very good. And that’s felt by the group across the board, the respect has grown for him I think.
“I'm confident we can do it. It’s been a good week, I think we’ve addressed some of the wrongs from last weekend, some of our conversion in their 22, some of our contacts in the middle 25 minutes of the second half. I'm hoping to see good fixes from that against Italy."
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