WALES forwards coach Robin McBryde expects the same warm welcome from the Irish pack on Sunday even in the absence of talisman Paul O'Connell.

The hosts start life without their legendary lock in the Six Nations opener at the Aviva Stadium after he retired from the Test scene after the World Cup.

The 36-year-old led the charge for the Irish since making his debut against Wales at Lansdowne Road in 2002, standing tall at the set piece and making his presence known around the paddock.

Not only must Joe Schmidt fill the sizeable void left by O'Connell but he must cope without Ulster lock Iain Henderson and props Marty Moore, Mike Ross and Cian Healy.

However, McBryde believes the Irish have the quality up front to make life difficult in a Test that will leave one country eyeing a title tilt and the other playing catch-up.

"Paul O'Connell has been a massive player for Ireland but they've had quality players behind him to take over," said the former hooker.

"It's going to be a tough day at the office for us on Sunday irrespective of who we face. The men who put the green shirts on, as we've seen in the past, very rarely play poorly as a home team.

"I expect them to be working doubly hard to fill that void. It was a natural retirement and they've been able to put the work in knowing it was going to happen.

"They have got some quality players and you don't have to look any further than Devin Toner with the role that he plays for Leinster. He is a key man and they will be looking for him to step up."

"Historically the scrum and driving lineout play a vital role in the Six Nations, especially against Ireland," he continued. "Two years ago we were taught a very harsh lesson there in Dublin."

Full-back Liam Williams is set to be selected for the opener after returning from a foot injury in the Scarlets' Guinness Pro12 defeat to Connacht in Galway last weekend.

Blindside flanker Dan Lydiate also appears to be on course to feature after being sidelined since suffering a shoulder/neck injury playing for the Ospreys against the Dragons on New Year's Day.

"Liam had 60 minutes under his belt, and everything is good with him," McBryde said. "And Dan Lydiate has joined back in full training.

"Things went as well as they could for Liam. He won definitely one of the collisions he was involved in (against Connacht), and he was pretty secure under the high ball.

"It was difficult circumstances for him, but from our point of view he has come through unscathed.

"Whether he is fit enough to start an 80 minutes, we will wait and see, but he is certainly fit enough to play some sort of part."

He continued: "There is a discussion to be had with Dan. One thing we have seen in a positive light is that he has taken part in our training sessions, which are quite intense.

"He has come through those scenarios. They (training sessions) are not a game, but we have tested each other out, and on the back of that he has come through."

See southwalesargus.co.uk/sport for details of Warren Gatland's team for Ireland from midday