By Niall Glynn BBC News Website

It is one of the most eagerly anticipated rugby internationals in recent years.

Ireland take on old enemy England in Croke Park, the 80,000-capacity home of the Gaelic Athletic Association on Saturday.

It is sure to be an emotional occasion at Croke Park

Emotions are bound to be at fever pitch at the Dublin venue.

But if you fancy being part of the crowd be prepared to fork out some serious money.

Tickets have long since sold out through the IRFU and Ireland's rugby clubs, but can still be found on internet sites like ebay and soldouteventtickets.

When they went on sale on 11 January terrace tickets cost 30 euros (about �20), stand tickets 80 euros (about �53) and premium tickets 110 euros (about �74).

The cheapest listing in ebay is �355 for four tickets, however others are going for more than �1,000 for two tickets in the Cusack stand, to �3,000 for four unspecified ones.

There is also a warning for potential bidders from someone claiming to have been ripped off on three occasions while trying to buy tickets for the game.

He warns would-be bidders to be careful who they buy from.

Meanwhile, on www.soldouteventtickets.com, a terrace standing ticket can be had for �975, while one in a seating section is on sale for �1,375.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll will hope to be celebrating a victory on Saturday night

On www.6nations.co.uk, a terrace ticket is available for �800; a seat for �1,100, while wwwadvantagetickets.co.uk has a standing ticket for �750 and a sideline seat for �1,250.

Making a more original bid is County Down plumber Oliver Forsythe, who is offering to buy and install a standard bathroom suite in return for a ticket.

Tickets for Ireland games are distributed to rugby clubs before going on sale on the IRFU's website.

Members of rugby clubs can apply for several tickets, but there is no guarantee they will receive the number they are after - or any at all.

One Irish rugby fan who normally gets tickets through Ballymena Rugby Club said those for Saturday's match were "like gold dust".

He applied for three, but didn't get any. Another fan he knows applied for four from Dungannon Rugby Club and got one.

However, Jim Stokes of BBC sports website says the current system of allocating tickets through rugby clubs was "spot on".

"If the 'public' want to buy an international ticket, then they should join a club and support it, even as a social member," he says.

Anybody who has paid big bucks for a ticket, has obviously the funds to do it, so I would have no doubt they will say that it was worth it Jim Stokes, BBC Sports Website

"If it was not for the clubs and the work that they do at grassroots, rugby would soon die a terrible death, particularly in the professional era."

He says clubs throughout Ireland have got on average a 15% rise in their allocation this season because of the 32,000 increase in capacity at Croke Park over Lansdowne Road which is closed for redevelopment.

He admits some rugby fans might be tempted to cash in on the high prices currently being offered for tickets.

"It's only human nature. Let's face it, if you were walking down Jones's Road on Saturday, and somebody came up to you and said: 'Hi buddy, I'll give you 1,000 euros for your two stand tickets'. What would you do?"

But he says anyone who has paid over the odds for tickets will still be in for a treat on Saturday.

"Anybody who has paid big bucks for a ticket, has obviously the funds to do it, so I would have no doubt they will say that it was worth it.

"The atmosphere is going to be electric."