David Harte is relishing the prospect of becoming a two-time Olympian when Ireland's hockey side begin their Paris 2024 campaign against Belgium.
The towering goalkeeper is one of just two men in the squad to have featured in Rio 2016, with Ireland’s record goalscorer Shane O’Donoghue also set for his second Games.
Belgium, India, Australia, Argentina and New Zealand lie in wait after the team secured qualification courtesy of a 3-1 win over Korea in a third-placed play-off in the final Olympic qualifier in Valencia in January.
The Corkman hopes his prior Olympic experience will allow him to enjoy the Games even more second time around, while also acting as a font of information for his team-mates.
"I believe somebody summed it up nicely to me when I was over in the village in Rio, they said your first Olympic Games is a fantastic experience, but your second one will be better," Harte told RTÉ Sport.
"So I think looking back and being able to impart some knowledge or advice onto the other players around is valuable.
"There are only two of us who have competed there, myself and Shane.
"So we have a bit of an insight what it's like and to try and give a good picture and an image of what it's actually like competing at an Olympic Games, at a multi-sport event and not just a hockey tournament. We can give some kind of idea of what they can expect when we get over there.
"But I can't wait to get back into that arena."
No sooner have Harte and his team-mates got back from France than their return beckons, with Ireland having undertaken a training camp in Lille in preparation for the Games.
"We had a very intensive eight/nine days, with two matches over there against the French side who will be going to compete in Paris," the 36-year-old said.
"It was good to see where we're at as a group and also to push just that bit harder, gearing up and probably getting to a higher level to achieve when we get to Paris."
The magnitude of the task facing an Ireland side ranked 11th in the world can't be underestimated, with opening opponents Belgium the reigning Olympics champions, and Australia and India having filled the minor podium places in Tokyo.
However, a measured Harte believes upsets are achievable.
"I believe anytime you go to the Olympic Games, you're going to be competing against the world's best nations," the Ireland number one said
"It's where we want to be at. At the same time, we're also very realistic.
"Our first three games are against the three medalling sides from the previous Olympics in Tokyo.
"So we're under no illusions of the tough fight that we have in our hands, but also we're quietly going about our business and hopefully going to throw a few sucker-punches to teams over there that won't be expecting it."
Rio 2016 saw Ireland end the pool stages with a solitary win over Canada. Eight years on, Harte is targeting two wins and an outside shot at the knockout stages, while savouring every moment.
"We want to go over and enjoy every single second," he added. Of course there are going to be, like any tournament in any sporting event, highs and lows that we're going to have to ride as a team together.
"But I think one of the strengths of this group is the unity that we have within this team.
"Expectations wise, I think going over there, I personally would like to see that we'd go one better.
"We obviously had our one victory over in Rio against Canada back in 2016 and hopefully we're eyeing up a quarter-final spot.
"It means that we have to finish in the top four out of the six in our pool. That would be something definitely we would be aiming for."
Sean Murray, who will captain the side at the Games, echoed the measured approach to the pool stages adopted by Harte.
"It's going to be tough," the Lisburn man said. "I think we've got to be optimistic but also realistic.
"I think looking at the five games we'll play, it's about putting in five good performances.
"We're playing against the top teams in the world, but you wouldn't want to have it any other way.
"We'll focus on ourselves, put in the good performances and see what we can do."
Murray believes that a Games so close to home shores should ensure a bumper turnout of supporters for Ireland – and not just from within the hockey fraternity.
"I think it's going to be a very special tournament so close to home," he said.
"It's not that far to get to Paris and a lot of people, friends and family are going over.
"But also a lot of people that I've seen around in the north of Ireland and guys in Dublin are saying the same, that people are bumping into them and saying they've got tickets to go over.
"Even people who aren't fans of hockey, they see us around and we're in the airport yesterday and people are saying, 'oh, we've got tickets for your matches’.
"To have that impact across lots of different people is quite special."
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