WALES boss Warren Gatland admits that there is "added spice" by his final Six Nations game being the chance to win a Grand Slam against Ireland - with his players fuelled by "jealousy" over club rugby success.

The New Zealander's last Cardiff outing in the tournament will be a meeting with his former side, and a chance to become the first man to win a trio of clean sweeps.

Gatland coached Ireland between from 1998 to 2001 and has indulged in some verbal sparring since.

In 2009 the New Zealander famously said that his players "dislike the Irish the most" while his role as pantomime villain was secured when he dropped Brian O'Driscoll from the Lions team to face Australia in the crucial third Test in 2013, that despite his selection being vindicated.

Gatland believes it is healthy respect that will lead to a fiery atmosphere on the Principality Stadium pitch, especially given that regional rugby is in turmoil while three Irish provinces are in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.

Barry And District News:

"I think the added spice is that with the PRO14 the players know each other," he said.

"We respect them hugely for what they have achieved. They are number two in the world, and their provinces have had a lot of success in the PRO14 and in Europe, and sometimes it can breed a jealousy.

"You respect them but you are desperate to want to beat them. That sometimes creates the edge, a lot of it stems from that.

"They have been incredibly successful. I take my hat off to their provincial rugby and what they have achieved in Europe, the PRO14 and what the national team has done. We have got to strive to do that.

"That creates that competition. It is almost like a derby-type feeling. You want to beat someone.

"For our group of players I know they get incredibly motivated to play against Ireland as they want to beat them because a lot of them have been on the losing end on a number of occasions, particularly to their provincial teams."

Gatland's teams have had the habit of winning crunch Six Nations games and the head coach has demanded that his charges repeat the effort from their round three win against England in Cardiff.

If they don't then he warns that Ireland have the stellar talent to make them pay.

"We have got to prepare well, and often at this highest level – and you can question it in that second-half (in Scotland) – if you are off a by one or two per cent mentally then it can be tough out there," said Gatland.

"There is no doubt against England we were mentally right on top of our game, and we need to be like that.

"The challenge for Ireland is that they have a team with some older and experienced players; they are often the most dangerous because there is always a big match in an experienced team.

"You don't always get as much consistency, but when it really matters they can turn on that big performance because they have done it before."

Saturday will be Gatland's last proper Test in Cardiff, a ground where he has enjoyed plenty of glory.

"There will be emotion," he said. "It is St Patrick's Day next week and the Irish will be chomping at the bit.

"It is going to be a great occasion and you won't be able to get a ticket anywhere.

"The competition is still open with England and Ireland thinking they will be in with a chance if we get knocked over.

"We want to win this Championship and the only way we can do that is by getting the Grand Slam."