Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has targeted a good performance from his side and has warned of the dangers of expecting a point-fest for the men in green.

"Ultimately performance is the key issue here," said O'Sullivan. "You have got to get the bread and butter just right before you apply the jam."

"I know there has been a lot of talk of putting up a big score which has clouded the water somewhat. We have to make sure we start well and play in their half. If we don't play well it's going to be very difficult for us.

"People tend to talk about the Italians in a disparaging way but they are two years down the track since we last met them. Their set-pieces are generally solid and I expect them to give us a bit of a run for our money in the line-out.

"We are still having difficulties there but we are improving all the time. If you keep on working on your weaknesses that's how problems eventually get solved."

O'Sullivan is under no illusions about the threat posed by Italy fly-half Diego Dominguez.

"He certainly brings a better balance to their side and without doubt has proved to be the best kicker in the championship so far.

"Often in defending the game line players get sloppy and we have to be extremely careful in that department given the calibre of his goal-kicking."

Asked how Ulster fly-half David Humphreys has responded to being given the captaincy in the absence of the injured Keith Wood, O'Sullivan replied: "David is the senior player in the squad and has always been a very good talker in the dressing room so the captaincy isn't such a big step up for him."

Humphreys has warned expectant fans not to expect a deluge of points against a team which has not won a Six Nations match since its debut in 2000, when Scotland were the victims.

Humphreys said: "There's no doubt we're expected to win and to win well but realistically Italy are a lot better than people give them credit for.

"If we go out and play like we did against England it's going to be a very long afternoon.

"But if we play like we did against Wales and in parts against Scotland then we've got to be confident that we know if we play the way we can we'll cause them problems."