BBC Six Nations coverage

Croke Park will stage its first rugby match when RBS Six Nations favourites Ireland entertain title rivals France.

The historic encounter will be between teams who opened with wins last weekend and it could go a long way to deciding the destiny of the 2007 championship.

Ireland have been hit by injuries to skipper Brian O'Driscoll and scrum-half Peter Stringer but Shane Horgan returns after missing the 19-9 win over Wales.

France have made five changes, three of them in the pack.

Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan declared himself satisfied by that three-try success in Cardiff but the general consensus is that they will have to play better to beat France.

The Croke Park thing is something to enjoy but it's not going to win the game for us Paul O'Connell

Skipper O'Driscoll, a GAA fan, is reported to be dejected about missing the first game at Croke Park.

The Gaelic Athletic Association has allowed the Irish rugby and football teams to play at their impressive north Dublin ground while Lansdowne Road is being rebuilt.

So there will be 82,000 spectators at Sunday's match, almost twice the capacity at Lansdowne, but O'Sullivan is playing down the historic aspect of the venue.

"I haven't thought about it like that, it's not an issue for me," he said.

"I'm proud of the fact that I'm involved with Ireland but I just want to get them right so they can produce a performance - that's what will make it memorable."

Lock Paul O'Connell added: "The Croke Park thing is something to enjoy but it's not going to win the game for us."

To many observers, this year is the one in which Ireland's squad of established stars should deliver the goods.

SIX NATIONS BLOG The nerves will be on the verge of shredding - it will be pressure-cooker stuff BBC blogger Jim Stokes More on our Six Nations blog

For coach O'Sullivan, it is not just about winning the championship but also about being well placed for a serious tilt at the World Cup.

The loss of O'Driscoll, scorer of a famous hat-trick against France in 2000, is a serious setback for the Irish. He is the superstar who can turn a game when the chips are down, and Ireland are not the same team without him.

As for the historic venue, will home advantage matter as much as it did at Lansdowne?

Local knowledge will not count for much as both sides are playing at the ground for the first time.

But Ireland can count on their best-ever vocal backing as home fans are certain to provide an amazing atmosphere at Croke.

"The Irish public really get behind their team. In France, at the moment, it is completely the opposite," said French coach Bernard Laporte.

"They have not beaten us since 2003. That means my players cannot be that bad."

And Laporte added the match could decide the outcome of the Six Nations.

"If we win, we will have the cards in hand to win the tournament and if we lose it will be them, as this year they have the advantage of three home games," he said.

So it is crunch time. Ireland have their main rivals - France and England - at home this year.

The England game promises to be a memorable sporting occasion on 24 February, particularly if both sides have 100% records.

An Irish defeat to France would take the gloss off it a little, and puncture the current feel-good factor surrounding O'Sullivan's men.

Ireland: Dempsey; Murphy, Horgan, D'Arcy, Hickie; O'Gara, Boss; Horan, R Best, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, S Easterby, D Wallace, Leamy.
Replacements: Flannery, S Best, N Best, M O'Driscoll, Reddan, P Wallace, Trimble.

France: Poitrenaud; Clerc, Marty, Jauzion, Dominici; Skrela, Mignoni; Marconnet, Ibanez (capt), de Villiers, Nallet, Pape, Betsen, Harinordoquy, Chabal.
Replacements: Bruno, Milloud, Thion, Bonnaire, Yachvili, Beauxis, Heymans.

Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand)