This is one to put the wind up the Azzurri.

Ireland have the flying fun-bus Sean Cronin on the front cover of the programme.

And he is only on the bench.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Rex Features

BBC Sport's Lyle Jackson at the Aviva Stadium:

"The theory doing the rounds before this game is that it's best to play Italy in the latter stages of the Championship.

"They started strongly and were so unlucky to lose to France, but as the series progresses and they pick up injuries, their momentum may have faded. That's what the Irish hope, anyway."

Andrew Cotter
BBC Rugby commentator

Image source, Getty Images

"Ireland will beat Italy - the Azzurri had their scrum pushed around the park by Scotland and they come without the talents of fly-half Carlo Canna, scrum-half Edoardo Gori and hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini.

"Yes, Ireland have lost Rob Kearney, but Jared Payne returns in the centre and the young back-rowers of Stander and Van der Flier already look impressive.

"Expect Ireland to cut loose in the second half."

Image source, REx

After running France to within two points in Paris in an, admittedly pretty dire, opening match, Italy have been soundly beaten in their next two matches.

England sacked Rome with a 40-9 win, before Scotland came away with a 36-20 victory - their first in the Championship for nearly two years.

And they arrive in Dublin missing key men.

Not the "key-est" of all men though...

Former Ireland flanker Denis McBride is on hand in Dublin to summarise for Radio Ulster.

 "The next two are must-win games. At the start of the campaign I think Ireland would have taken three wins, or two wins and a draw," he says.

"When you think about it, Ireland drew with Wales and should really have beaten France. So they are not that far away."

That's more like it. A bit of optimism.

You will be able to tune into live commentary from the Aviva Stadium on Radio Ulster - available on this very web page - with updates on BBC Radio 5 live.

Image source, PA

BBC Sport's Lyle Jackson at the Aviva Stadium:

"The pressure is on Ireland to deliver their first win of the 2016 Six Nations. The dethroned champions have just one point to show for their first three matches and are looking for back-to-back home victories against Italy and Scotland to salvage pride.

"The teams last met in the pool stage of the World Cup in October with the Irish winning a dour battle 16-9 to qualify for the quarter-finals. Let's hope for a much better spectacle on what is a beautiful day in Dublin."

Image source, Irish Times

Image source, Irish Daily Mail

What was hailed as efficient, effective, watertight tactical rugby is now accused of holding back - rather than hoisting up - this Ireland side.

Ireland have to win - and in some style - against Italy to keep the faith strong in the current set-up.

Lose and this Six Nations campaign lurches very quickly from "what might have been" to full inquest mode.

Image source, Getty Images

Since then the wheels on Joe Schmidt's wagon have started wobbling rather worryingly.

Run ragged and out of the World Cup by Argentina.

Hauled in by Wales.

Duffed up by France.

And shown up by England.

Image source, Getty Images

Successive Six Nations titles under their belt, possibly the canniest coach around at the helm, a 100% record in the World Cup group stages and the knockout stages laid out invitingly before them.

That was Ireland in mid October.