Ireland number eight Anthony Foley is expecting a battling encounter when his pack goes up against France at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.
Foley has joined the call for realistic expectations among Irish fans buoyed by successive Six Nations victories over Scotland and Italy.
He echoed his coach Eddie O'Sullivan's contention that the French are still a class act despite their opening-day Twickenham defeat to England.
"It's going to be a very tight game," said the Munster star.
"They're a very good side and you just have to take a look at their pack - they're awesome up front and for us it's going to be a long day at the office if we don't front up early on in the match.
"We have to command our set-pieces and try and control the pace of the game and the possession we get. We can't afford to take a backward step all day and we can't afford the lapses in concentration and commit the errors we had against Italy in Rome.
"We have to be ruthless on Saturday. It's going to be very close, a score in it I reckon, but I think we'll just nick it. Our feet are firmly planted on the ground. We're just concentrating on this game on Saturday and the obstacles it poses to us as a team."
Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll is also wary that the hype gathering behind hopes of an Irish Grand Slam could come to an abrupt halt on Saturday afternoon.
"People are getting ahead of themselves," he said. "Have they forgotten that France won the Grand Slam last year, that they just put 38 points on Scotland last week?. . .we all know how hard it's going to be."
PA