Ireland began its preparations for the crunch game against its Six Nations rival at the Otago Stadium on Sunday with a training run at Carisbrook yesterday afternoon.
Ireland winger Keith Earls rejected any suggestion his side would be a heavy favourite after it had won the past 15 tests against the Italians.
"Maybe in the past you would have said that but you would not say it now. You've got to respect all the teams and they have had some famous victories in the past and, hopefully, it won't be our turn on Sunday," Earls said.
'We are winning three games and you think you are in quite a good place. But being Irish we never do anything easy. It is a cup game and we have to win it.
It is like Ulster-Munster when it comes to cup mode. If they play to their potential on Sunday it is going to a dance of the desperates."
Ireland is looking set to qualify top of its pool, thanks to its upset 15-6 win over Australia at Eden Park.
It backed that up with a convincing 62-12 victory over Russia on Sunday in Rotorua.
Earls though had felt the effects of that win and did not train yesterday as he was carrying a slight leg injury from the game.
He said the team was on a high after the victory over Australia but the side was not looking too far ahead.
"The Australian win has been very exciting. A lot of us dream about making quarterfinals, semifinals but we are not going to get too far ahead of ourselves.
Italy ran us close in the Six Nations and beat France. We know it is going to be tough but, hopefully, on Sunday we'll have smiles on our face."
Earls said Italy was a physical side and admitted he was always sore the next morning after playing the Azzurri.
Irish forwards coach Gert Smal said the Italian forward pack was big and strong and would deliver a tough scrum.
"They pride themselves in their scrums and drives. That is the thing we need to stop. We will be tested in all areas," Smal said.
Italy played last night so Ireland will have the benefit of having a couple more days off although Smal said his team might only be a little bit fresher.
"We can't control when they play and what affects them. We need to concentrate on what we can control and do the best we can with it."
Smal, a South African, who worked with the victorious Springbok side at the last World Cup in 2007, said he had played with Italy coach Nick Mallet, who would know what to do to get his side fully ready for Sunday.
Smal and the Ireland coaching team was not thinking any further ahead than Sunday's match.
"It is first things first. Obviously a winner-takes-all game on Sunday. We go to the next stage or we go home.
"It was always going to come to this game and we always knew this is the one we had to win. It's all hands on deck and we're working hard to get there."