Wales begin the defence of their Six Nations crown at home to Italy on Saturday in what is considered one of the most open tournaments in years.
A resurgent England will have their mettle tested away to France in Paris, while Ireland will hope to build on a promising autumn international series - when they came within a whisker of beating world champions New Zealand - with victory at home to Scotland on the opening weekend.
Warren Gatland has returned as Wales coach, having stepped aside last year to concentrate on leading the British and Irish Lions to a 2-1 series victory in Australia.
Wales claimed the title on points difference under interim coach Rob Howey after destroying England 30-3 in Cardiff on the final weekend last year.
Gatland looks to lead Wales to a historic hat-trick of Six Nations championships with most of his squad that also claimed the grand slam in 2012.
"There's the potential to do something special. It's nice to talk about that and focus on that," said Gatland, who will not take the Azzurri for granted, especially following their sensational victories last season against France and Ireland.
Dan Biggar misses out to Rhys Priestland at fly-half for the opening tie while captain Sam Warburton has been declared fit but will start from the bench, with Alun Wyn Jones taking over the captaincy.
England coach Stuart Lancaster has called up uncapped Exeter wing Jack Nowell to his squad to face France but wing Chris Ashton and scrum-half Ben Youngs have been left out.
France will be looking to bounce back from a dismal Six Nations in 2013, when a solitary victory over Scotland in Paris on the last weekend meant Les Bleus finished up with the wooden spoon - France's first in the six-team era and only their second in 44 years.
Coach Philippe Saint-Andre will be without Thierry Dusautoir for the tournament while number one fly-half Remi Tales has been ruled out of the first game against England with a biceps injury.
Ireland only had a single victory in the 2013 tournament - against eventual champions Wales - but the team's play during the narrow loss to the All Blacks indicates they may have turned a corner under head coach Joe Schmidt.
Brian O'Driscoll will also want to retire on a high in what the 35-year-old centre has announced will be his final Six Nations championship.
Last season, Scotland enjoyed their best Six Nations finish for seven years, with wins over Ireland and Italy at Murrayfield. But November defeats to South Africa and the Wallabies show that Scott Johnson's side still have some distance to go.
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