The priority is to defend their hard-earned Six Nations title. With that and the World Cup in August to follow, Ireland's Grand Slam-winning group, with the exception of Joy Neville retiring, have shelved playing Sevens rugby this year.
Focusing on 15-a-side still leaves at least eight significant Test matches ahead of Fiona Coghlan's team in 2014. Game one is tonight in the familiar confines of Ashbourne against an inexperienced Scotland under new coach Jules Maxton.
Co Meath remains home for Wales before the reward of the Aviva Stadium against Italy next month. They are also playing in Twickenham.
Before securing the 30-3 win and Triple Crown in Bonnyrigg last year, Scotland dragged a nervy Ireland into an error-strewn forward-orientated duel. That was welcomed by flankers Claire Molloy, a hidden gem that day beneath a pile of larger bodies, and Siobhan Fleming, whose responsibilities increase tonight as they must bed in Highfield number eight Heather O'Brien.
Natural strengths
The loss of Neville cannot be overstated but head coach Philip Doyle was keen to accentuate O'Brien's natural strengths. "Heather has shown great form. I'd say she is the fittest girl in the squad, a genuine ball carrier and incredibly quick."
Twelve months ago it was the belligerence of Coghlan, close in, allied by Jenny Murphy’s direct carrying and Niamh Briggs’ finishing, with Lynne Cantwell linking it all together, that broke Scottish resistance.
Coghlan, Murphy and Cantwell should take up where they left off but a recent Briggs' injury means she only makes the bench. Winger Niamh Kavanagh needed ACL reconstruction after being injured playing Sevens so Doyle has had to reconstruct his back field. This means a recall after three years for Richmond fullback Jackie Shiels while fellow exile Hannah Casey wins her first cap.
Briggs so famously secured victory over Italy last March from the kicking tee, but that responsibility shifts to Murphy. Other changes are evident at hooker and scrumhalf with Stacey-Lea Kennedy usurping Gill Bourke and Amy Davis in for Larissa Muldoon.
Presuming the scrum and lineout provide the usual launch pads, the systems introduced by new attack coach Fergal Campion – a wonderfully skillful St Mary’s and Bective Rangers outhalf in his day – should yield tries. Anything but a comprehensive victory would be a surprise.
