Wallabies captain Rocky Elsom says his team must cope with the "unique" pressures of Croke Park to overcome the Irish and keep their grand slam hopes alive.

Elsom, of course is no stranger to Croke Park having led Leinster to a stirring European Cup semifinal victory over Munster at the ground earlier this year.

He was voted European player of the year last season during his sabbatical at Leinster before returning down under in June to resume his international career.

Croke Park houses 82 000 fans and is certain to be packed to the rafters as Brian O'Driscoll captains Ireland in his 100th Test.

Elsom says playing in the enormous arena is something else.

"You need to address the noise element because, compared to the crowds we get in Australia, it's very loud," Elsom told the AAP.

"The noise coming out of the place was deafening the whole game [against Munster].

"If we were on the field together, we'd have to be so close and you'd have to be watching my mouth to hear what I was saying.

"We'll address that, but that's not too hard. You just need to make the players aware of it and we should be fine. Hopefully they don't make too much noise."

Elsom says the massive Gaelic Football ground is like no other the Wallabies will ever experience in world rugby.

"It's very different to Lansdowne Road," he said. "It's different to Newlands [in Cape Town].

"It's just so much bigger and there's a lot of people in the stands obviously, but the actual field itself is quite big.

"It feels like a much bigger stadium. Well, it is. It's a much bigger playing field. It has a different feel about it as well.

"It's pretty unique... it's pretty good. I don't know if overwhelming's the word but the fans certainly get stuck into it."

The hard-hitting flank is looking forward to locking horns with his former Leinster team-mates Brian O'Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip and Rob Kearney while he also suggested Ireland could well prove a tougher nut to crack than England was on Saturday.

"England played well in patches there and we obviously outlasted them," said Elsom.

"Ireland had a great Six Nations. They have a good style and have a lot of players playing well. I can only imagine they will be very difficult."

"They don't really look to have too many weaknesses. It is going to be a big match."