And Gatland’s mission in the Eternal City is a simple one – get the job done, then think about Ireland.

Victory over Italy at Stadio Flaminio tomorrow – preferably by a 20-point margin or more – would set Wales up to successfully defend their RBS 6 Nations title.

It would then boil down to a winner-takes-all Millennium Stadium showdown with Grand Slam-chasing Ireland next week, unless France beat England on Sunday and follow up by smashing Italy in eight days’ time.

But with shirt-sleeved Welsh supporters out in force and the bookmakers rendering tomorrow’s encounter effectively a no-contest, wily Gatland knows his team must be mentally switched-on.

“For us, you have got to be careful you don’t get caught in that carnival atmosphere,” he said.

“It is easy to come here, and think the ’sun is out, it’s nice’ and then you arrive at the ground and see the Italians waving their flags.

“You can very easily get caught up in that, and we’ve got to be mindful of it. Two years ago, Wales came here and lost.

“We are here for the rugby, we are not here for the sightseeing. We will leave that to other people.

“We are here to do a job, that is the important thing.

“We came over on the plane yesterday with a lot of fans who wanted photographs and signatures, which was all very nice, but the last thing we want to do is be on that same plane if we’ve lost a game.

“The guys who experienced it a couple of years ago (Wales lost 23-20 in Rome) said the looks from the supporters weren’t the nicest they had experienced.

“They said you could see what was in the supporters’ eyes, which was ’thanks for ruining my weekend, basically’.

“That is some sort of motivation for us.”

Gatland accepts that all important points difference will be a factor this weekend – but he urged caution for those who expect Wales to cut loose virtually from the kick-off.

“The points difference is something that might come into our reckoning later in the second half,” he added.

“First of all, it’s about going out there, being physical, getting a performance and hopefully a result. That’s the first thing on our minds.

“If we play well enough and we are physical enough, then hopefully we can get some points.

“If you go into these games and start thinking about the scoreboard right from the start, it is when you get yourselves in trouble.

“The result is the most important thing, and then hopefully everything else will take care of itself.”

Italy are reeling from three successive Six Nations defeats, having conceded a total of 100 points and 12 tries in losing to England, Ireland and Scotland.

But the Azzurri can seek inspiration from two previous Rome wins against Wales in the Six Nations – 2003 and 2007 – plus the magnificent form of their captain Sergio Parisse.

The Stade Francais number eight has been arguably the tournament’s form forward this season, despite his team’s sustained struggle.

“He has the complete range of skills,” acknowledged Gatland.

“He is a player we’ve got to make sure we take care of – he’s a talisman for them.

“He is a major player in terms of carrying the ball, so we have to make sure we don’t give him an opportunity to get too much into the game and lift the Italian side.

“He is such a good player that he is capable of doing that. He is one of the better players in the world, who I think relishes the challenge of leading the Italians from the front.

“We expect the Italians to be physical. It was a very tough game last year at home, and it wasn’t until the second half that we really started to open them up.

“Hopefully, we will be able to weather the storm. We’ve got to be as physical with them as they possibly will be with us.”