Ireland coach Warren Gatland has warned New Zealand they will be in a for tough time at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Touring All Blacks teams have in the past merely had to weather an early storm from the passionate Irish before switching into overdrive and running away with victory.

But former All Black Gatland (pictured) has promised it would be very different this time.

"There's a lot of confidence in Irish rugby right now," he said. "Before, when Ireland played the All Blacks it was a case of batten down the hatches.

"This time we intend to go out and put them under pressure. Our management aims at the start of the season were to become part of the world's top five. We'll know on Saturday how close we'll be. This game will be a good indicator of how far we've come."

Gatland named his strongest line-up to face New Zealand but then admitted his side was blighted with injuries.

Having seen a makeshift Irish side comfortably defeat Samoa 35-8 at Lansdowne Road last Sunday, Gatland and his management team have opted for the starting XV which defeated England in their Six Nations clash in Dublin last month.

But there are doubts over the fitness of several of those players, including Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll, who broke down with a knee injury after just half an hour of Tuesday's training session at Greystones.

Gatland said: "The team selected is a reflection of the form shown against England.

"But our resources are quite strained at the moment, which has been a concern. We started with a much different side against Samoa than we would normally like to have done."

Ireland's biggest injury worry surrounds Eric Miller who took no part in training at Greystones on Tuesday morning.

Irish manager Brian O'Brien said: "Eric Miller didn't train and he is our biggest concern.

"David Humphreys, David Wallace and Anthony Foley didn't take a full part in training, but we will probably wait until Friday to really finalise the team."

But while the Irish nurse their injuries Gatland is expecting his former team-mate John Mitchell, the newly-appointed New Zealand coach, to have the Kiwis well prepared.

Gatland said: "As a player he led from the front and as a coach it will be the same.

"His methods are very uncompromising and his players will be very fired up. It will be very emotional on Saturday.

"Training will be a case of last man standing and it will be a very physical week for them."

Having experienced the high of beating England, Gatland was relishing the chance to do the same to his countrymen.

"It will mean a lot more," he said.