The 26-year-old returned from international exile to make his first test start for 16 months in last weekend’s 15-15 draw with England.

De Luca knows nullifying O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy will be a very different challenge to taking on England pair Riki Flutey and Mathew Tait.

But with the opportunity to spoil the Ireland party and end their bid for a fifth Triple Crown in seven years the Edinburgh centre insists he is ready for the challenge.

"Playing these guys, there's a bit more movement, a bit more flair, as opposed to playing somebody who's 20 stone and 6ft 5in,” said De Luca.

"Brian O'Driscoll is known as the greatest centre of modern times.

"I've played him on four or five occasions and I've been happy with the times I have played him.

"It'll be a good contest and I look forward to trying to get one up on him.

De Luca is no stranger to facing O’Driscoll, having played numerous times against him and his Leinster teammates in the Magners League.

And the Edinburgh man has called on Scotland’s forwards to make sure O’Driscoll doesn’t have the possession he needs to cause them problems.

"If our pack stops him getting the ball then job done,” he added.

"He's very much a leader for them in the back line, he flies up hard and he stops a lot of attacks.

"So we have to address that and make sure we can exploit the holes he leaves behind him."