Cardiff is where Ireland sealed their first Grand Slam in 61 years in 2009; where Munster have won two Heineken Cups; and where Wales have only won once over the men in green since 1983.

Two of Wales' tormentor-in-chiefs Brian O'Driscoll and Ronan O'Gara could each enter the record books on Saturday. O'Gara needs just two points to become the fifth player to pass the 1,000 Test point barrier while an O'Driscoll try would draw him level with Scotland's Ian Smith as the Championship's record try-scorer.

More importantly an Irish win would put the Championship's destiny back into their own hands with a game against England to come at the Aviva Stadium.

But Ireland boss Declan Kidney, who has named an unchanged starting XV, remembers the days when Cardiff was not such a hospitable venue for visiting teams and says the game will be settled by the finest of margins.

"There's not a whole lot between us at the minute," he said. "Depending on how old you are and depending on the age in which you were reared, Cardiff Arms Park was always a daunting task.

"Myself, I would be more of the JPR Williams, Barry John generation so any time I think of going to Cardiff Arms I know we're in for a full test and a huge game ahead of us.

"Two years ago there was literally that one kick of the ball between the two sides.

"So it'll be one of those games that whoever manages to take the chances that arise will come out on top."

There is just as much at stake for Wales, currently second in the table on points difference, as they seek to win three in a row for the first time since their 2008 Grand Slam.

With Warren Gatland's injury worries clearing up, fit-again Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies return in place of Morgan Stoddart and Stephen Jones who both drop to the bench.

For the fourth game running in the Six Nations, James Hook changes position - this time to his favoured fly-half role - but while plenty of focus has been made of Wales' attacking talents, Gatland believes the referee Jonathan Kaplan could be the most influential individual on Saturday.

Both teams have been heavily penalised for the their indiscipline so far - Wales conceding 34 penalties to Ireland's 36 - and Gatland admits the interpretation of the breakdown will potentially be the decisive factor.

He said: "With someone like Jonathan Kaplan, he is a world-class referee so we just hope he allows us the opportunity to get quick ball.

"We need to be accurate at the breakdown ourselves on attack but if we do get our chance to get quick ball, it gives us a chance to keep the ball in hand and to play some attacking rugby.

"That will be a key focus for us and we will be talking to the referee about hopefully getting his cooperation in that area."