JONATHAN Davies has warned that Wales must not 'run up our own backsides' in the bid to pile the pressure on England and Ireland in the three-way tussle for the Six Nations title.

Warren Gatland's men need a thumping win against Italy if they are to overhaul the Irish, who travel to Scotland, and leaders England, who host France.

Wales have a points difference of +12 but if they put the Azzurri to the sword at the Stadio Olimpico at 12.30pm then Ireland (+33) will have to respond at 2.30pm then it's the turn of England (+37) in the Super Saturday finale at 5pm.

"Hopefully we can put ourselves in a position to put pressure on," said centre Davies. "It's a tough ask but I think we can do it. We've reacted well in the past to certain situations like this. It's an exciting time for us."

"There has been an edge about us in training," he continued. "We understand the task at hand and we've been up against it with tough times before. We've got to go there, be confident and show what we can do."

The bookies have Wales as 7/1 outsiders to top the table and if they are toasting success in Rome then they won't be able to party with the silverware.

The actual Six Nations trophy will be at Twickenham in case England keep first place while the replica will be at Murrayfield should second-placed Ireland make a late dash.

"I'm sure we'll find a trophy somewhere like a plastic cup or something," said Davies. "Obviously people are doubting us and don't think we're going to be involved.

"But we'll concentrate on ourselves and put a performance together that hopefully means we can get the cup on Sunday."

Wales need to pile on the points in Rome while also defending with the same gusto that denied the Irish at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday but the Clermont Auvergne man has warned about going gung-ho too early in Rome.

"It has to be a focus of going out there with a similar game plan we have all tournament: put pressure on the opposition, make sure we don't run up our own backsides and play in the right areas of the field.

"We don't have to force it. We can build a performance and build a result. It's not falling into the trap of 'jouer', as they say in France. Pressure seems to come on you then instead of the opposition."