They may have been stars on the international scene for years, but a number of players head into the 2008 Six Nations knowing it is time to deliver.
For England a totemic figure is, for the first time in his international career, coming under increasing pressure for his place.
His Irish equivalent will be desperate to put a poor World Cup behind him, while established players in all the other teams are playing for their futures.
Here BBC Sport picks six of the big names with something to prove.
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