Jamie Heaslip insists Ireland must enter the final round of the Six Nations still believing it can retain its title.
The defending Grand Slam champion continues to snap at the heels of leader France after dispatching Wales 27-12 at Croke Park in a game that failed to match expectations.
Scotland is next up for Ireland, who will complete a fifth Triple Crown in seven years if it concludes its temporary residency at GAA headquarters by claiming another Celtic scalp.
Its gaze would then turn to Paris where France hosts England in the climax to the tournament, praying that Martin Johnson's side can upset the favourites.
Even if that unlikely scenario unfolds, Ireland's vastly inferior points difference keeps France in the driving seat with Les Bleus' crushing 46-20 victory over Italy today extending the gap.
Heaslip believes England are capable of wrecking French ambitions of securing the Grand Slam and insists Ireland must retain hope of winning the title themselves while it remains mathematically possible.
"We're still playing for the championship next Saturday - big time. The Triple Crown would be great as well, " said the Leinster No.8.
"We're going out to win and hopefully there's some silverware at the end of it because you never know what you're going to get with France.
"Whichever team wants it more between them and England will win. If England turn up they can the win because France are a very beatable side.
"They're good and they'll punish you if you let them, but if you match them physically and shut down some of their strike runners you can cause them many problems."
Ireland failed to do just that when it travelled to the Stade de France four weeks ago and paid the price with a 33-10 rout.
Normal service has resumed since with victories over England and Wales, though there may be a sense of disappointment that it failed to significantly improve its points difference on Saturday.
Wales was a rabble at times, disjointed and ill-disciplined, enabling Ireland to pull away without really extending itself as it took the try-count 3-0.
Elusive Munster winger Keith Earls displayed his finishing ability to cross in each half, giving him six tries in only nine matches, sandwiching an equally dynamic score from man of the match Tomas O'Leary.
"Wales may be disappointed with some of their finishing. As a team we made more inroads into their half," said Heaslip.
"Wales played a pretty expansive game and tried to stretch us. They made a couple of breaks but we did well to slow down their ball.
"It didn't really feel like they threatened our line at all. They didn't show much to cause us problems.
"They're still a good side but we were the better team and they can't have any arguments about that.
"Two years ago was my first Six Nations tournament and losing to Wales that day was a bitter pill to swallow.
"We didn't want to send Croke Park off having not beaten them and we got the job done three tries to none."
A key moment arrived shortly after half-time when Ireland began buckling during a series of five-metre scrums.
Wales opted to persevere with the set-piece when the Irish had been penalised but on the fourth scrum, just as a penalty try looked imminent, it was shoved back and lost the ball.
It was a dramatic escape from Ireland that provoked one of