FORWARDS coach Robin McBryde has demanded Wales hit the highs of Ireland when they go in hunt of top-seed status for the World Cup in Paris on Saturday.

If Rob Howley's side end this year's Six Nations with victory in France then they will be hoping that champions England can then complete a Grand Slam by winning in Dublin.

That would see Wales, who last week were sweating on a top eight place in the world rankings ahead of the draw for Japan 2019, join the English, New Zealand and Australia as top seeds for the tournament.

It would be a remarkable turnaround but McBryde is insisting such thoughts are at the back of their minds and that they will "only control what we can control".

That is getting to the same emotional levels that saw them turn over the Irish 22-9 in Cardiff thanks to a combination of enterprise and aggressive defence.

"We can't rest on our laurels," said the former hooker. "We've just to go out there, step it up again and use some of that momentum gained from the last game and take it into the France game with us.

"That's the challenge. That is what good teams do, they back things up, they back performances up with another good performance.

"We haven't seen that in this campaign, and this is the last chance for us to be able to do that. So hopefully we can match that performance.

"We are playing away from home - the surroundings are not as familiar as the Principality Stadium - but that's the challenge, and hopefully we can meet it head-on on Saturday."

It has been suggested in some quarters that Wales should use the fixture to give a first Test start to fly-half Sam Davies while the uncapped Steff Evans has been mooted as a wing option.

That idea was shot down by defence coach Shaun Edwards on Monday – "the time to be blooding players is definitely on the summer tour" – and McBryde emphasised that experimentation is not on their agenda.

"The Six Nations is all about performance, irrespective whether you are in the hunt for the title or not," he said.

"We've just got to back up that performance against Ireland with another good performance against France.

"We've got to prove it to ourselves that we can do it. That level of performance has got to be there, and that is the challenge that is going to be set to whoever is wearing the red shirt on Saturday."

At the fore of the efforts at the Stade de France will be hooker Ken Owens, who is closing in on a place in the British and Irish Lions squad thanks to an excellent Championship.

The Scarlets front rower spent last season as Test back-up to Scott Baldwin but has made the number 2 jersey his own in 2016/17, form that has thrilled his forwards coach.

"We've seen glimpses of it, but he is doing it on a consistent basis now," said McBryde.

"The front five have gelled together in this campaign, and that has definitely allowed Ken to shine in his work around the field.

"He is up there with one of the best ball-carrying hookers with regard to his ability to spin in the tackle and his ball presentation. He has got great offloading skills as well.

"Ken ticks all the boxes with regard to the modern-day hooker and all that work is on top of his work at set piece. He has been part of a very solid scrum and very solid lineout."