Ireland are favourites to claim their first championship since 1985 and have been backed to end their 59-year wait for a second Grand Slam.

But they face a potentially fraught opener at the Millennium Stadium, the setting for Wales' own Grand Slam clincher in 2005 when Irish title hopes were wrecked 32-20.

And O'Driscoll, who will be winning his 34th cap as captain, knows Wales are highly capable of bringing an early conclusion to talk of a championship clean sweep.

'Wales will be a massive test for us, and it's going to be a huge game. It could all go disastrously wrong if we don't win the match,' said the Leinster centre.

'Facing Wales first up has sharpened us as much as we possibly can, because we realise what a big challenge it is.

'We realise how hard Wales have been to beat in Cardiff over the last few years.

'You can't leave it behind against Wales for the first 10 or 15 minutes.

You have to start on that first whistle because they will get out of the blocks quickly and we have to match them.

'I anticipate it being a real ding-dong match and not a lot between the teams. Sometimes it is good to test yourselves like this early on.

'I am sure Wales are quietly confident. No-one is talking them up and all the attention has been on ourselves, but they will have high expectations.

'Two years ago they managed to win the Slam with the fixtures the way they have fallen this year. I think that makes them even more dangerous.'

Resounding autumn victories over South Africa and Australia have made Ireland the prized scalp of this year's Six Nations.

They were rated favourites for both matches and thrived under the pressure, but the last time they were backed to win the Six Nations they were dispatched by France and Wales on consecutive weekends.

They have matured as a team since the disappointment of 2005 but despite high confidence levels, O'Driscoll insists complacency is not a threat.

'There were other issues that denied us beating France in the fourth game of the Six Nations two years ago,' he said.

'There is too much experience in this team now to have any element of complacency.