Scotland head coach Vern Cotter knows the size of the task facing his winless side when former coaching partner Joe Schmidt brings his Ireland charges to Murrayfield for Saturday's crucial Six Nations clash.
Cotter dismissed suggestions that the Scots will be facing flawed opponents, despite the Irish blowing their Grand Slam hopes with their 23-16 defeat against Wales in Cardiff last Saturday.
But they still have a fighting chance of retaining the Six Nations trophy on the final day of the championship, although Schmidt's side have been criticised for their lack of creativity, managing just four tries in their first four matches, one of them a penalty try award.
Scotland have scored five and they are facing the prospect of a whitewash after four defeats from four.
Cotter, however, is adamant that Ireland have been moulded into a complete package of a team under the direction of Schmidt, his fellow-New Zealander who was his coaching assistant when he guided Bay of Plenty to the Ranfurly Shield in New Zealand in 2004 and Clermont Auvergne to the French Top 14 title in 2010.
"If you analyse it, Ireland have got all facets of the game covered," said Cotter, who has drafted flanker Adam Ashe and prop Ryan Grant into his starting XV following Scotland's 25-13 defeat against England at Twickenham last Saturday.
"They can kick. They can run. They're good at set phase. They've got line-out drives. They're a very skilful, powerful team. They go to the air if they need to find space.
"They're obviously a well-drilled team. They've spent a lot of time together and they've enjoyed success together. They're the Six Nations champions and they'll see this as a chance to keep the title. It's going to be a challenge for us."
- Disappointed -
Ireland, England and Wales all start the final day with six points from three wins but England lead the table by virtue of a points difference of 37, ahead of Ireland (+33) and Wales (+12).
Ireland's kick-off in Edinburgh is sandwiched between Wales' start against Italy in Rome and England's evening kick-off against France at Twickenham.
"We are disappointed that it has come down to this, but we are still in there," said Schmidt, who had his sights set on following his debut season title success with what would have been only a third-ever Irish Grand Slam, emulating the clean sweeps of 1948 and 2009.
"I think Scotland have named a really good side," added Schmidt, who has made two changes to his own starting XV, calling up winger Luke Fitzgerald for his first start for four years and promoting prop Cian Healy from bench duty.
"I think there is a bit of desperation on both teams which will make for a really combative Test match."
Inside centre Robbie Henshaw, who scored a vital try in the 19-9 home win against England, insisted in an interview with the BBC: "We're not looking at points difference. We're just concentrating on the game and trying to get a (positive) result.
"We are determined to put in a good performance after letting ourselves down a bit in Cardiff. The Scots put it up to England at Twickenham and went close to turning them over, so we need to be 100% focused."
Source: AFP
