By Bryn Palmer

Can Ireland improve on last year's Triple Crown?

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll admits the time is right for a serious tilt at claiming the RBS Six Nations crown.

The Irish host England and France and are being tipped for a Grand Slam.

"It is not a case of 'now or never' but we see it more as 'why not now?' rather than maybe next year, when we might have a few more caps," O'Driscoll said.

"I don't think our approach will be different to any other year but we have good confidence in the side so we need to take the bull by the horns."

O'Driscoll is already being tipped to lead the Lions on their summer tour to New Zealand.

His Leinster side are also in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, but he insists now is not the time to be resting on his laurels.

"It is a fickle sport and you are only ever one game away from being injured," he added.

"It has been a fantastic season so far but I haven't won anything yet and I haven't been selected on any Lions tour.

We shouldn't let it burden us - we should seize it Eddie O'Sullivan

"I want to be as successful as I can this year and that includes winning silverware of some sort.

"If the Lions captaincy comes around, that would be fantastic, but it is not something I have put a huge amount of thought into."

After finishing runners-up for the past two years, and claiming a first Triple Crown since 1985 last season, Ireland are well placed to launch a Grand Slam bid.

Coach Eddie O'Sullivan insists his side must take the growing expectations in their stride, rather than be intimidated.

"We take it as a compliment," he said. "It is nice that people think we can do it and put us up there with England and France.

Team guide: Ireland

"But we shouldn't let it burden us. We should seize it and grasp it.

"It is a reflection of what we have done in the last couple of years. We have played well and got some big results."

O'Sullivan is wary of too much Slam talk too soon, however, and is concentrating on coming away from Rome and Edinburgh with victories in their opening two matches.

"The Six Nations is a great test," he added. "On any given weekend, anyone can get turned over so thinking about a Grand Slam is a waste of time.

"We start with two away games. Two years ago we came through that scenario well and we just have to focus on that.

"We need to dig out two wins and see where that takes us."