Ireland will confirm their place in the 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter finals on Sunday if they can get a victory over familiar opponents Italy at The Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
However, a win for the Italians would give them a glimmer of hope of making it past the group stages after they managed to overcome Canada in last week's 23-18 win. With Ireland coming up against France in next weeks final group game, a win in London this weekend would put them in good spirit ahead of the game.
Ireland are one of the favourites to win the Web Ellis Cup and have had an impressive start to the group stage. The boys in Green cruised past Canada on the opening game set them up well for their 44-10 win over Romania last Sunday.
Going into the game it is Joe Schmidt's Ireland side who have the upper hand out of the two as the Irish have managed 20 wins in the last 24 matches over the Italians. The two did meet in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in which Ireland won 36-6, but Italy did beat Ireland in the 2013 Six Nations Championship.
Boost for Italy as Sergio Parisse returns
Italy have been handed a huge boost ahead of the game as captain Sergio Parisse has been declared fit to play in London. Parisse, who is Italy's most capped player missed his country's opening two games because of a calf haematoma.
Parisse, 32, only returned to training on Tuesday but coach Jacques Brunel needs the experience of Parisse to help get their world cup back on track. Italy lock Quintin Geldenhuys insists that Parisse is capable of "running the show" against the defending Six Nations champions despite his recent injury problems.
"He's just always had a presence that marks him out from other players, his leadership really driving us on," added Geldenhuys.
A number of changes for Schmidt's Irish
Schmidt has made 11 changes from the win over Romania with only Simon Zebo, Keith Earls, Tommy Bowe and Jamie Heaslip keeping their place in the squad looking for a quarter final place. Zebo has returned to the squad after leaving earlier in the week to attend his Grandfather's funeral, but Rob Kearney has not being risked as he recovers from a hip injury.
Robbie Henshaw will make his first appearance of the tournament after missing out due to a bruised foot and will therefore partner Keith Earls in the centre, whilst Tommy Bowe and Dave Kearney will occupy the wing berths.
The returning regular starters also include half-backs Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray plus other key players Paul O'Connell, Mike Ross and Iain Henderson.
How they line up
Ireland: Simon Zebo; Tommy Bowe, Keith Earls, Robbie Henshaw, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack McGrath, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Iain Henderson, Paul O'Connell (capt); Peter O'Mahony, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Nathan White, Devin Toner, Chris Henry, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald
Italy: Luke McLean; Leonardo Sarto, Michele Capagnaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Giovanbattista Venditti; Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Andrea Manici, Lorenzo Cittadini; Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Furno; Francesco Minton, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse (capt).
Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Michele Rizzo, Dario Chistolini, Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti.