<p><br /> Brian O'Driscoll takes little heart from Ireland's schedule during this season's Six Nations.<br /> </p><p><br /> With England and France - traditionally viewed as the competition's heavyweights - due to visit Lansdowne Road, odd number years are regarded as Ireland's best chance of winning.<br /> </p><p><br /> But O'Driscoll insists trips to Rome, Edinburgh and Cardiff have proved far from routine in recent times.<br /> </p><p><br /> "You have a preference for playing the perceived stronger sides at home but at the same time last year we managed to lose to Scotland at home," he said.<br /> </p><p><br /> "Having watched what they did at Murrayfield last November (beating South Africa), we know that won't be an easy game.<br /> </p><p><br /> "We only beat Wales in Cardiff two years ago when they had a penalty kick fall a yard and a half short of the posts in the final minute."<br /> </p><p><br /> He added: "I even remember we went nine points down in the first half of the Italy game two years ago.<br /> </p><p><br /> "We had to fight our way back with an interception try and eventually ground our way through.<br /> </p><p><br /> "What makes this tournament so great is that to win five games in a row is really tough. That's why it took us 61 years to do it for a second time."<br /> </p><p><br /> Ireland head to Rome for their opening match of the championship against Italy on Saturday.<br /> </p><p><br /> Despite a lengthy injury list that has robbed them of 12 Test players, they remain red-hot favourites to launch their Six Nations with a victory.<br /> </p><p><br /> O'Driscoll will lead the side out at Stadio Flaminio needing just two tries to equal Ian Smith's individual championship record of 24 - a mark that has stood for 78 years.<br /> </p><p><br /> "It's not something that will have any bearing on how I play my game or how I go about this campaign or any others," said O'Driscoll.<br /> </p><p><br /> "If tries come, grand, but it doesn't really bother me which person scores them."<br /> </p>
