Rugby: Brian O'Driscoll is determined to keep results in perspective as Ireland's preparations for the World Cup enter a key phase. The Leinster centre will make his first appearance of the summer in Saturday's clash with France at Aviva Stadium after recovering from a neck/shoulder injury.
The 32-year-old captain is joined in midfield by Gordon D'Arcy, who is in action for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in May.
Having lost to Scotland and France already this summer, it is important Ireland start building momentum to carry into the World Cup by winning the home leg against Les Bleus. O'Driscoll, however, insists further defeats would not cause panic in the camp.
"Winning is important but isn't the be all and end all. It's also about getting game time and getting up to speed," he said. "If we didn't win a warm-up game it wouldn't be ideal, but it's not the World Cup right now.
"The World Cup is in three weeks' time. Let's focus on getting the best possible performance. We're going into the game with the attitude of we really want to win this game, so let's see what happens.
"There's definitely an onus on trying to win the game but because some guys will be making their first start, it's essentially about playing your way into the season. We'll try to get the performance that will take care of the result.
"It's about making sure we have the right mentality for the weekend. Our intensity and physicality need to be right."
Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip will make their summer series full debuts against France, while David Wallace, who has yet to feature, is named at openside. And there was more good news when destructive backrow Stephen Ferris was passed fit for bench duty following a seven-month battle with a knee problem.
It was an encouraging team announcement from Declan Kidney, who will keep a close eye on O'Driscoll, D'Arcy and Ferris.
O'Driscoll is ready to hurl himself into the fray but does not expect to be at full tilt just yet.
"Although I haven't been able to do a huge amount of contact during this pre-season, I've put myself in a position to make sure I'm doing everything up to that contact point," he said. "I've been working on things like footwork and being in the right place at ruck time.
"For me I like to be up to speed after three games, but I'll feel an awful lot better after getting 80 minutes under my belt this weekend."
Ireland (v France):F Jones (Munster); A Trimble (Ulster), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, capt) G D'Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster), T O'Leary (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster, capt); S O'Brien (Leinster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), T Court (Ulster), M McCarthy (Connacht), S Ferris (Ulster) E Reddan (Leinster), R O'Gara (Munster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster).
