Even when New Zealand were routinely handing out hammerings to Irish sides over the last 30 years, the visit of the All Blacks to Dublin has always been special.
The relationship, since 2016, has changed beyond recognition and no longer do players and fans fear what is about to unfold.
Ireland, off the back of five wins in their previous nine encounters, go into this game as six-point favourites and there is a sense of expectation that Andy Farrell's side will get the job done.
The hosts are on a 19-game winning streak at Aviva Stadium, which stretches back to 2021 when France won in the Six Nations.
In fact, Ireland have an even more impressive record at home across the autumn internationals, losing just once since 2013, when New Zealand came to town in 2016; that was a vicious clash as the All Blacks, who won 21-9, came hell bent on revenge for the Chicago loss two weeks earlier.
Aside from the 2019 World Cup quarter-final, all of the games have been exciting, close-fought contests, enhancing the new found rivalry between the teams.
"A healthy one, good one," said head coach Andy Farrell, who had just joined the Ireland set-up as defence coach, of the change of dynamics following the 2016 Chicago win.
"It's exactly how we would want it anyway.
"I suppose New Zealand over the years have had it in a sense where they probably thought they should win against Ireland, but the way that we've performed or improved since Soldier Field, hopefully the respect is a little bit higher from their side for us now."
While Ireland have a better head-to-head in recent seasons, thanks to a series win in New Zealand in 2022, the craw stuck in the Irish throats is the World Cup.
There's not one man among the squad who wouldn't swap every win over the All Blacks for one in Paris last October.
That's why this game isn't about revenge, a win of any size won't erase the pain of the 28-24 loss 13 months ago.
In a funny sort of way, victory might only feed the sense of 'what if'.
No, this game stands on its own merits as a clash between the top ranked team in the world, Ireland, and the World Cup finalists.
The Friday night lightshow, the Haka, and the booing that will accompany the first time Rieko Ioane, who had a run-in with Johnny Sexton after the final whistle in Paris, gets his hands on the ball are all extra ingredients.
The Kiwis, third in the world, are already two games into their tour, a largely second-string outfit routing Japan 64-19 two weeks ago, while they escaped Twickenham with a 24-22 victory in which England missed two late kicks to win it.
Typical of how New Zealand go about their business now, and reminiscent of how they last beat Ireland, the game was about moments, their ability to create something when nothing looked on.
Winger Mark Tele'a scored twice, the first starting with a brilliant assist from Wallace Sititi, the latest dynamic back row forward off the production line.
Head coach Scott Robertson has been forced into two changes for this evening's 8.10pm kick off with concussion ruling out out-half Beauden Barrett and hooker Codie Taylor.
In comes Damian McKenzie, who scored the match-winning conversion last weekend, and Asafo Aumua.
Farrell makes five changes to the starting XV that earned a superb 25-24 victory over South Africa in July.
It's just over 24 hours until the huge showdown between Ireland and the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium. How's how both sides are shaping up #RTERugby pic.twitter.com/9PTAc483e0
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 7, 2024
Finlay Bealham replaces the injured Tadhg Furlong at tighthead, while Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan are preferred over Conor Murray, Robbie Henshaw, Calvin Nash and Jamie Osborne, who is on the bench.
"It's a good side, a couple of positions there where we've had to pick a few lads who didn't have much game time and then there's other positions where lads have had good game time and are in good form," said Farrell.
If New Zealand's strike-play is their trump card, it's Ireland's high skill levels, discipline and game-management that has got them to this level.
IRELAND v NEW ZEALAND BATTLES
The @AllBlacks took time out to visit @cymrugby as the Dublin club celebrates its 100th anniversary. Ardie Savea spoke to #RTESport about the importance of grassroots rugby and #IREvNZL #RTERugby pic.twitter.com/RqynEbH43I
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 7, 2024
But set-piece has been an issue and Paul O'Connell, forwards coach, will hope to see a repeat of the lineout return from the win over France last February when Ireland won 13 from 13 and nicked two of the opposition throws.
The scrum suffered against New Zealand last year and again in the South Africa series. Ireland need to break even at the least.
"It's something that we've spoken about a lot and been talking a lot about and worked unbelievably hard over the last 12 days to have as good a set-piece as you possibly can," said Farrell.
Robertson, who took over after the World Cup and lost three of six Rugby Championship games, is still figuring out his best team.
A fourth loss in the calendar year would almost be unthinkable for the All Blacks who will come all guns blazing. It's also hard to think that they will be as ill-disciplined as they were in London where they conceded 11 penalties.
"For us, we are trying to catch up.
"Playing in Ireland is going to be more special because of the last time we met each other so there's a bit of sting still there. It's going to be great but it's going to be tough."
The game kicks off an exciting Autumn Nations Series for Ireland, who face Argentina, Fiji and Australia later this month.
But the success of the series will largely depend on how this game goes. New Zealand are bidding to avoid a third successive loss here and that intangible may just be worth a few points.
Verdict: Draw
Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciarán Frawley, Jamie Osborne.
New Zealand: Will Jordan; Mark Tele'a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima; Tamatai Willians, Asafo Aumua, Tyrel Lomax; Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa'i; Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea.
Replacements: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samipeni Finau, Cam Roigard, Anton Lienert-Brown, Stephen Perofeta.
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
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