Joe Schmidt of Ireland© Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Ireland vs. Scotland

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Saturday, 17.00 GMT

Ireland's final RBS 6 Nations fixture against Scotland has cause to be the most open, expansive game of this year's championship. With England aiming to beat France for the Grand Slam and Wales hosting an out-of-sorts Italy, Saturday's clash in Dublin could well be the battle for third place. Pressure on Joe Schmidt has been relieved with a convincing 58-15 win over the Azzurri, while Scotland are seeking a third successive championship win for the first time since 1996.

Team news

Captain Rory Best has been passed fit for Ireland despite missing training earlier in the week. However, Josh van der Flier will sit out the clash after being given a rest by Schmidt, despite impressing in the last two matches. Tommy O'Donnell comes back into the starting fold.

For Scotland, Cotter has made three changes to the side that beat France at Murrayfield last week: Duncan Weir starts at fly-half after Finn Russell failed to recover sufficiently from concussion. Among the forwards, Tim Swinson comes in for Jonny Gray, who has a pectoral injury, and Ryan Wilson replaces Josh Strauss, who drops to the bench. The backline remains unchanged.

Ireland: Zebo, Trimble, Payne, Henshaw, Earls, Sexton, Murray; McGrath, Best (Captain), Ross, Ryan, Toner, Stander, O'Donnell, Heaslip.

Replacements: Strauss, Healy, White, Dillane, Ruddock, Reddan, Madigan, McFadden.

Scotland squad: Hogg, Seymour, Taylor, Dunbar, Visser, Weir, Laidlaw (Captain); Dickinson, Ford, Nel, R Gray, Swinson, Barclay, Hardie, Wilson.

Replacements: McInally, Sutherland, Low, Harley, Strauss, Pyrgos, Horne, Lamont.

Key head-to-head

Ireland have the best scrum record of the championship so far, having won 27 and lost just one so far. However, Jack McGrath -- who has been excellent throughout the tournament -- faces a WP Nel in inspired form. Scotland's prop has impressed with a number of strong showings, which have even brought talk of a potential Lions call-up. This will be an intriguing battle to say the least.

Key stats

*The Irishmen are unbeaten in their last eight RBS 6 Nations encounters at Aviva Stadium -- their best ever home run in the history of the Championship.

*Scotland's only Six Nations victory in Dublin came at Croke Park in 2010, whilst they have not been victorious at Lansdowne Road/Aviva Stadium since a 17-16 win in 1998.

*Scotland have not been victorious in their round 5 encounter since beating Italy at Murrayfield in 2011.

Form guide

Ireland - LDLLW

Scotland - LLLWW

Odds

Ireland are overwhelming odds-on favourites to win the game with Unibet pricing them at 8/25 to clinch victory. Scotland are 12/5 to come away from Dublin with their third victory of this year's championship.

Fantasy players to watch

The battle of the two scrum-halves. Conor Murray has been the lynchpin in Ireland's attacking play throughout the tournament, while Greig Laidlaw, the Scottish captain, will be their talisman as they look for a third straight win.

Prediction

This will be one step too far for Scotland, who have had a fantastic championship. Ireland, with renewed confidence following a big win over Italy, have too much firepower and that prove too much -- the home side by 10 points.