Like many of the sides in the Six Nations Ireland have had several injury worries but they will still field a pretty strong side when they take on Italy in the Stadio Flaminio.

The Irish will be without key backs Tommy Bowe, Geordan Murphy, Andrew Trimble, Shane Horgan and Rob Kearney which has catapulted 24 year-old Fergus McFadden into the starting line-up on Saturday. However, they welcome back talismanic second row Paul O’Connell and hooker Rory Best.

Italy have always struggled in this tournament and even with several key players missing for Ireland, on paper, they still have by far the stronger squad of the two and should comfortably dispatch the 250/1 outsiders for the tournament.

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Ireland are currently 1/7 with most bookmakers with the Italians best-priced 6/1 with Sporting Bet and the draw is 33/1. Even with home advantage the Italians appear to lack pace and power all over the pitch and with Ireland have two of the best centres in world rugby with Gordon D’Arcy and skipper Brian O’Driscoll they should comfortably create gaps in the Italian rearguard

Jonathan Sexton sits in at No.10 for the visitors and if he can kick with the accuracy he does for Leinster then Italy could find themselves playing a lot of rugby in their own 22.

At 1/7 the Irish are far too short from a punting perspective, so look towards the handicap markets which the bookmakers are offering. Most of the firms have Ireland -12 on the handicap and at 10/11 that offers much better value than the skinny odds for an outright win.

If the Irish pack can dominate early up front then later on in the game the backs should be able to utilise the gaps in the Italian defence and they should comfortably win by 15-20 points.