WALES' chief of defence Shaun Edwards says he is open to offers to become a head coach.

The rugby league legend is under contract as part of Warren Gatland's management team up to next year's World Cup.

Edwards, who has been with Wales since 2008, was asked ahead of the Six Nations clash with Ireland about his excitement at locking horns with counterpart Andy Farrell in Dublin.

The 51-year-old praised his former Warriors teammate – and then passionately highlighted his own impressive achievements since hanging up his boots.

"Andy Farrell was an outstanding player – one of the best players I ever played with – and he has turned himself into an outstanding coach and has done very well with the British Lions," said Edwards.

"But I stick my record up against anybody in world rugby. The only person who has won more trophies than me is Wayne Smith, and he is an absolute legend of coaching.

"I've won 13 major trophies – 10 as an assistant coach and three as a head coach. The only one I've not won is the World Cup.

"I have got huge respect for Andy Farrell, and I would like to think he has got the same for me. We are friends off the, we know each other's families. but come Saturday, we are obviously opponents.

"These are the games you remember for the rest of your life, big games like this. It is a privilege to be involved.

"I think people just forget I was a head coach, and won every single major trophy in five years – the Heineken Cup, English Premiership, Anglo-Welsh when it was a major trophy.

"Because I have been an assistant coach for eight years now – I wanted to be involved in international rugby – I think that probably gets forgotten a little bit.

"Potentially, I would be open to offers. I really do enjoy being involved in international rugby. It's where I want to be, really, so whether that is as an assistant coach or a head coach, it doesn't really bother me.

"If I get an offer as a head coach in rugby league or rugby union, I will listen to it."

Edwards' hopes of adding to his CV with another Six Nations crown rest on upsetting Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, with another massive defensive effort needed.

"We're expecting to have to make over 200 tackles. Ireland are a team who very rarely lose the ball," said the defence coach, whose charges conceded just two penalties in defeat to England.

"If you look at the stats through the Six Nations, the team that has had the ball more than any other is nearly always Ireland. They wear teams down."

Meanwhile, Test rookie Andrew Porter will be tasked with anchoring Ireland's scrum.

The Leinster prospect will start at tighthead after Tadhg Furlong failed to beat his hamstring injury in time for the Aviva Stadium clash.

Munster centre Chris Farrell will also make his first Six Nations start in the absence of Robbie Henshaw while Devin Toner starts at lock with Iain Henderson also missing through hamstring trouble.

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster), K Earls, C Farrell (both Munster), B Aki (Connacht), J Stockdale (Ulster), J Sexton (Leinster), C Murray (Munster), C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster, captain), A Porter, James Ryan, D Toner (all Leinster), P O'Mahony (Munster), D Leavy (Leinster), CJ Stander (Munster).

Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath (both Leinster), John Ryan (Munster), Q Roux (Connacht), J Conan (Leinster), K Marmion (Connacht), J Carbery, F McFadden (both Leinster).