Brian O'Driscoll admits Ireland must sharpen their finishing skills if they are to capitalise on Italian "frailties" at the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

Ireland enter the final weekend of the Six Nations knowing they must defeat Italy as heavily as possible if they are to give themselves a chance of snatching the title from France.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has stressed that victory in Rome is no foregone conclusion given the buoyant Azzurri will be gunning for an unprecedented third straight championship triumph.

And while O'Driscoll maintains Italy's backline has obvious weaknesses, he knows Ireland must improve on their sloppy 19-18 win at Murrayfield if they are to be exploited.

"Alessandro Troncon has come back in at scrum-half and given Italy a certain stability," said the Ireland skipper.

"He has the experience that perhaps Paul Griffin didn't have and knows how to boss games. Their two fly-halves have both played well in the Six Nations.

"But they're not without their frailties and there are opportunities for us to have a go at them. Their weaknesses are not just down the 10 channel or Troncon's lack of speed - there are other angles.

"But we must put our opportunities away if we're to make the most of them - which is what we didn't do against Scotland."

He continued: "First and foremost we want to win the game but we're facing a very tough Italian side who are playing with a lot of confidence.

"They have two wins on the bounce and they'll be looking to make it their most successful Six Nations campaign ever.

"We'll have a tough day at the office if we don't cut out the errors and indiscipline that haunted us against Scotland and even threatened to take the game away from us.

"We have to get back to what we do best and that's playing good, hard, running rugby. We probably need to be more direct against Italy because of their defensive system."

Italy have been hit by the loss of Mauro Bergamasco - a try-scorer against Scotland and Wales - with the gifted openside suspended for punching Stephen Jones last Saturday.

But Ireland are also without a key figure after Paul O'Connell was ruled out for a month with the fractured thumb sustained against Scotland, giving Mick O'Driscoll a chance in the starting line-up.

O'Connell's talismanic presence will be sorely missed against Italy, who are considered to have the best pack in the Six Nations, especially as the Munster lock had overcome a slow start of the championship.

"It will be tougher on Saturday because Paul is not there. Any team without Paul will be a weaker side," said O'Driscoll.

"He's been a huge player for us for a number of years now. Some of the stuff that was reported in the press that he was having quiet games was dangerous.

"Typically he then produced one of his monumental performances against England.

"He had pivotal moments against Scotland, particularly at the end when everyone else was out on their feet and he stole the ball from a ruck, picked it up and headed down field.

"Its things like that and his leadership that we'll miss. He did a lot of good work against Scotland, made a couple of mistakes like anyone else, but his ball carrying was very effective.

"When our backs were against the wall he was one of the players who stood up. But Mick O'Driscoll has been around the squad for a long time now.

"He's 28 years old and has plenty of experience and has experience. He will fit in perfectly well as he's another Munsterman in the pack."  Agencies