Michael Cheika doesn't have any working experience of playing against Munster, save for knowledge of the "spiteful" encounter against the Wallabies that Munster won back in 1993 and some tales from his compatriot Alan Gaffney, but he can see the extra pep in the step of his Leinster players as they prepare for the latest instalment in this rivalry in Cork on Sunday. Stirring the motivation juices, he deduces, will be the least of his problems.
Indeed, keeping something of a lid on them might be more fitting. As talk drifted towards the roots of the enmity between the provinces and their club sides in the amateur days - when Munster probably had something of a chip on their shoulders about Leinster's influence in the corridors of selectorial power, and with good reason - Cheika sought to bring it all back into perspective.
While he acknowledged other factors were at work, not least Irish selections of the upcoming autumn series, he stressed the desire for four or five points from the Celtic League fixture was the primary motive nowadays.
"I think if we think about our town against their town too much we start to lose focus on what we've got to do, and that's win the game. I'm very much preaching that to players. I know motivation won't be an issue. It's about making sure every player is concentrating on his role."
The first step on that road is selection in this fixture, the nearest thing to a final trial Irish rugby has consistently thrown up for the last five years. There was no inkling yesterday as to Cheika's thinking when he named a 28-man squad which marked the return of Brian O'Riordan in place of Guy Easterby who fractured his jaw in the 30-23 win over Ulster last Sunday. But if Leinster coaches in the past would have gone for the more experienced options for games such as this, you sense that won't be the case with this Australian.
"If players are playing well, there's no reason why they should be left out because it's a big game. I'm the type of person that breeds a squad mentality, that players are interchangeable at any time. There's no sulking if you're out. This is the way it is."
Looking back on Leinster's deserved and confidence-boosting victory over Ulster, Cheika said: "I wouldn't be getting carried away. I'd still like to see a little bit more attack from first phase but the pace of our game is lifting which is something that I'm on about and I think it was another step along the way for us, definitely."
A nagging concern remains the flawed Leinster lineout (Malcolm O'Kelly is in line to play some of Saturday week's game at home to the Cardiff Blues) which lost four of its own throws last Sunday.
"The focus of our lineout changed a little last week. We didn't actually get a whole lot, I think we only got 10 in the whole game, and our lineout problems came purely from throwing I think. So we've got to just iron those issues out. The breeze probably didn't help. But it's an issue we've definitely got to iron out. They've got a strong defensive lineout."
No player will understand the true nature of the Leinster-Munster rivalry better than Leinster's adopted scrumhalf Brian O'Meara. He grew up thinking of Leinster as the main enemy, but has long since been entrenched in their camp now.
"On my first day back it was an interesting reception but I've been here six years at this stage, so the rivalry and slagging has gone down a bit now," though he didn't feel it appropriate to repeat them in the context of a press conference. "Just the usual slagging you get when you go back to face your old team."
O'Meara pinpointed the 2002 Celtic League final victory as his highlight of Leinster-Munster games and Eric Miller, who was sent off in that final, admitted there was more of an edge to these games.
"The teams know each other so well that there's that mutual respect there. Leinster-Munster has always had a particular added spice to it. I always enjoy going down there and mixing up with the lads, as they do.
"Unfortunately for us in the last few years we've come out on the wrong end. It's about playing it smart and matching them up front. You find you repeat yourself, but that's what it comes down to because our backs only need a few opportunities I think in the big games and we'll take scores but it's about getting the possession and setting the platform for them.
"I think the boys up front know that but equally Munster know that as well, and they also come in with that extra edge knowing they have to stop us playing as well as playing their own game. So with those ingredients, motivation isn't really an issue in these games," Miller concluded, echoing his coach.
Continuing Leinster's busy activities off the pitch, the David Lloyd Health & Fitness Riverview in Clonskeagh will become the new administrative home to the Leinster team. The facility, which incorporates a gymnasium dedicated exclusively to Leinster Rugby, has a private entrance and will include offices, meeting rooms, team rooms. The existing private "Leinster" gymnasium has been tripled in size.
The team will continue to use Old Belvedere RFC and the newly-relaid back pitch in Donnybrook for training purposes. The move is expected to take place next week.
LEINSTER SQUAD (v Munster): Backs: B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, E Hickey, C Warner, F Contepomi, K Lewis, S Horgan, R Kearney, D Hickie, B Burke, G Brown, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey. Forwards: R Corrigan, R McCormack, W Green, E t Byrne, B Jackman, D Blaney, B Williams, B Gissing, D Dillon, S Crawford, C Potts, K Gleeson, N Ronan, E Miller, J Heaslip.
