Cardiff, Wales – With the Triple Crown secured and the Grand Slam in sight, Wales must deal with fans' expectations and guard against overconfidence when they take on Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday.
The supporters who watched Wales finish fourth at last year's Rugby World Cup, win late at Ireland, outlast Scotland and snatch victory over rejuvenated England expect a big win over Italy.
Wales has won four straight matches against Italy with an average margin of victory of 19 points but, with captain Sam Warburton out injured and Italy's pack dangerous as ever, the Welsh players must be careful not to look too far ahead.
“We are back at the Millennium Stadium in front of our home fans and we need to refocus sharply after our Triple Crown triumph,” coach Warren Gatland said. “Italy will be hoping to find us complacent and with one eye on the French game.
“But nothing less than victory on Saturday will be accepted by this Wales team or satisfy the nation behind us, and all of that leaves the players themselves brimming with ruthless intent.”
Scott Williams snatched victory - almost literally - from England last month, ripping the ball from the hands of Courtney Lawes to score a match-winning try with just four minutes remaining.
Such is the strength of the Wales squad, Williams is again among the replacements, with Jonathan Davies lining up as a center alongside Jamie Roberts.
“The squad is pretty grounded,” Davies said. “We all know there is a lot of expectation on us, but I think we can handle that. There is a good feeling within the squad and we know what is expected on the field. We are all working hard and doing our jobs, and we are not going away from that.
“The competition within the squad is fierce at the moment, and it is making training that much more intense. We are working at such a high level now in training.”
That constant professionalism seems to be the difference between the current Wales team and the inconsistent squads of the past that, for example, finished fourth in 2004, won the Grand Slam in 2005 and then finished fifth in 2006.
Prop Gethin Jenkins will captain Wales with Warburton ruled out by a knee problem. Justin Tipuric will replace Warburton for his first start in the back row alongside Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau.
The only other change is the recall of fit-again hooker Matthew Rees to an all British and Irish Lions test front-row with Jenkins and Adam Jones.
Italy made seven changes following the 42-10 defeat against Ireland that left it bottom of the standings with a points deficit twice that of Scotland, the only other team yet to pick up a point.
Mirco Bergamasco returns from shoulder surgery on the left wing, Gonzalo Canale comes in at No. 13, scrumhalf Fabio Semenzato will make his first start under coach Jacques Brunel, and Kristopher Burton replaces Tobias Botes at flyhalf.
Simone Favaro receives his first Six Nations cap at flanker, Cornelius van Zyl returns after two games out at lock, and veteran Andrea Lo Cicero replaces Michele Rizzo at loosehead prop.
Italy: Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Gonzalo Canale, Alberto Sgarbi, Mirco Bergamasco, Kristopher Burton, Fabio Semenzato; Sergio Parisse (captain), Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni, Cornelius van Zyl, Quintin Geldenhuys, Lorenzo Cittadini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero. Reserves: Tommaso D'Apice, Fabio Staibano, Marco Bortolami, Robert Barbieri, Tobias Botes, Tommaso Benvenuti, Giulio Toniolatti.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Rhys Priestland, Michael Phillips; Toby Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins. Reserves: Ken Owens, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams. – Sapa-AP