Brian O'Driscoll's side complete the championship with a St Patrick's Day finale against Italy and will then be anxious viewers as France's clash with Scotland unfolds.

The RBS 6 Nations winners could well be decided by points difference but Stringer insists efforts to rout the impressive Azzurri will lead to ruin.

'At the start of the season the target was to win the Grand Slam. That's slipped away from us but we've still got an opportunity to win the championship,' he said.

'It's an earlier kick-off to the other games. We need to enter the match with the mindset of winning and if the scores come we can put some points on the board.

'But that won't be easy and the most important thing is just to win. If we get sidetracked with what's going on elsewhere, that's when we'll lose.

'Italy are riding high at the moment. Each season they've improved, especially this year when they beat Scotland with a very good performance away from home.

'They troubled England as well and of course last week they beat Wales. Their confidence is high and there's no doubt it will be tough for us.

'It should be a great encounter, especially as the championship is wide open going into the final day.

'We have to work on getting the quick ball to get behind the Italians and not give them time to reorganise their defence.

'They're strong around those ruck areas with the defensive plan they use. We have to hold onto the ball and be patient. Hopefully they'll run out of numbers.'

Italy enter Saturday's showdown on the back of consecutive victories over Scotland and Wales with veteran scrum-half Alessandro Troncon at the heart of their success.

Troncon, 33, was persuaded by Italy coach Pierre Berbizier to come out of international retirement and Stringer believes the move was a masterstroke.

'Troncon has done really well and has come back from nowhere really,' he said.

'The fact Italy's forwards are playing so well makes Troncon's job easier but there is no doubt he has been a key man for them. He's a great player and difficult opponent.'

Ireland will be missing their inspirational lock Paul O'Connell for the trip to Rome - the Munster skipper has a fractured thumb.