Scotland forwards coach George Graham has told his charges that they must be on top of their game if they are to handle Ireland's ageing pack in their RBS 6 Nations clash this Saturday.

Ireland's glittering backline may be their most celebrated feature, but Graham insists if his team are to neutralise the threat posed by Brian O'Driscoll and his team-mates then they must first win the battle for supremacy at the pit-face.

"The Irish pack are doing very, very well - they are very competitive, they are aggressive around the breakdown and their set-pieces are quite steady - but the Scottish coaches have done their homework and we are aware of that," Graham said.

"We'll approach this game the same as we approach any other game.

"They are a very, very experienced side and I would be surprised if you don't see a lot of the Irish team hang up their boots after the World Cup,  but they are still a quality side and I'm looking forward to the game," he added.

"If you look after yourself and you are well managed then with age comes  experience, and with experience comes a bit more composure when you are in  situations that you've been in many times before.

"I carried on playing until I was 37, so I'm the last person who should be  dismissing the value of experience to a team."