But for a second time last year Warren Gatland's side came away with the bragging rights and a last-four berth in Auckland after their 22-10 victory.

Ireland's much vaunted back-row were shut down by Wales, led by Sam Warburton but he will be without his partner in crime, Dan Lydiate, for the trip to the Aviva Stadium

Gatland's injury problems don't end there with Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Luke Charteris and AlunWyn Jones also out meaning winger Alex Cuthbert, flanker Ryan Jones and prop Rhys Gillwill start.

And despite the much changed personnel, Gatland is adamant Wales will be ready for any Irish backlash in a city they have won in just once since the turn of the century.

"We are two sides who know each other well," said Gatland who will be taking charge of his 50th game as Wales boss. "Ireland will not have enjoyed losing to us in New Zealand.

"They will want to redress the balance in Dublin this weekend, but they will find us in just as determined a mood. We have been working hard, and we feel we are approaching this match with the right attitude and with some good preparation work done.

"The quarter-final was one of those days as a coaching team when you get things right.
"We prepared and planned for that game very well, and maybe Ireland - after their victory over Australia - were thinking a little further past the quarter-finals and perhaps hadn't looked at us in so much depth."

In stark contrast, Declan Kidney is able to pick from a position of strength with three Irish provinces through to the Heineken Cupquarter-finals and a virtual clean bill of health.

The only notable absentees come in the centre with talismanic captain Brian O'Driscoll out with shoulder surgery and his replacement, Keith Earls, pulling out due to his daughter's illness.

O'Driscoll's shoes are filled, as they are at Leinster, by Fergus McFadden who forms an all-club midfield combination with Gordon D'Arcy and Jonathan Sexton, who replaces Ronan O'Gara.

The only other change sees Andrew Trimble come in on the wing but despite the absence of Irish rugby's most famous son, the Ulster flier says Paul O'Connell is more than a willing deputy.

"Paul is great in the dressing room," he said. "I look up to him massively and have an enormous amount of respect for him as a leader and a player.

"To a certain extent he goes into a zone, but at the same time he communicates well. He leads well and brings everyone with him.

"Brian is a massive loss, in terms of what he has to say, but more importantly the impact he has on the pitch.

"But everyone's fully confident of what Paul brings. There's no better man to replace Brian as a captain."