SIX NATIONS: Brian O'Driscoll has warned Six Nations title rivals Wales that Ireland have yet to hit full throttle. Declan Kidney's side must topple the defending champions in Cardiff to claim their first Grand Slam since 1948 in what promises to be a gripping climax to the tournament.
Since dispatching France in thrilling style and routing Italy, they have struggled to subdue dogged resistance from England and Scotland.
And with one round left to go, O'Driscoll believes Ireland have failed to realise their full potential.
"I'd like to think the best is yet to come," said the Lions and Leinster centre. "We showed glimpses of what we are capable of, now it's about trying to put it together for the full 80 minutes.
"No team is the complete side, any team in the world will tell you that. You are always looking to improve and we are still looking for that big one."
Talk of the Grand Slam has once again been placed off limits by an Irish camp determined to play down the significance of Saturday's encounter.
O'Driscoll sees no need to alter an approach that has reaped dividends so far in the Six Nations.
"I'm sure that, individually, players' minds might wander when they are sitting in their room or going to sleep," he said.
"That's human nature. But, in terms of the things we are in control of as a squad and a team - our analysis, our preparation before a Test match - nothing changes.
"That's the way we are approaching it. The fact the big carrot at the end of it is there, it's the white elephant in the room, but why treat it any differently?
"What's the reason for changing? It would mean that we wouldn't have done ourselves justice the previous weeks. For us, it's the same strategy as the previous four weeks.
"We have treated each game as an entity in itself. We have done it every time in the Six Nations and it's just the same this week.
"We aren't conscious of whether or not we are talking ourselves up or down. We feel that's the best approach to take."
Ireland have made three changes for Cardiff with scrum-half Tomas O'Leary, number eight Jamie Heaslip and hooker Jerry Flannery recalled to the starting line-up.
