Expectations are that the trip to Murrayfield on March 13 will be a formality, leaving Wales final match against Ireland in Cardiff as a Grand Slam decider.

Shanklin could hardly deny the supporters their optimism - Wales are playing with confidence and an iron will which has guided them to victories over world champions England and RBS 6 Nations title holders France.

But he insisted the focus in the camp must remain on beating Scotland as any weakness in the mind could be exploited.

We dont want to get carried away with thinking about the Ireland game. The press and the fans seem to hype things up, and they will do now after that big win over France, said Shanklin.

But the coaches are always telling us to focus on the next game. We will not look at Ireland at all now or anything else apart from Scotland.

Its difficult not to think ahead when you are always asked about it because we have not been in this position before in the last few years.

But we are not concentrating on Ireland or the last game of the Six Nations at home. All we can concentrate on now is Scotland away.