Les Kiss believes Ulster have "plenty of Irish No 9s we can rely on" as the province adjusts to the reality that Ruan Pienaar's long-term future lies elsewhere.
The South African scrum-half will leave Ulster at the end of the season due to the IRFU's policy to restrict non-Irish qualified players at the provinces to one person per position.
It's a bitter pill to swallow for Pienaar and his team, but Kiss - while acknowledging the 32-year-old's class - refused to dwell on the situation.
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“It’s difficult to say that one man makes all the difference, but he can make a difference in big games," he told RTÉ Sport.
"We’ve tried to focus on the fact the decision has been made, we move on and make sure each game is approached the way it can be.
It’s difficult to say that one man makes all the difference, but he can make a difference in big games
"We've got Paul Marshall below Ruan who's been serving us well - he had a great game last week for us, so we've got plenty of Irish No 9s that we can rely on.
"It will take a squad to win this competition. When you’re fighting on three fronts – the Pro12, Europe and also the national front because you do lose a lot of players there – you’ve got to make sure your whole squad is up for it and that’s what we’ve been trying to do, broaden and deepen that squad.”
Ulster have made a scorching start to the Pro12 campaign.
Five wins from five has left them top of the tree and the team to beat, but a trip to champions Connacht tonight (7.35pm) has Kiss on edge.
“It’s not a good time to get them," he said. "We know it’s going to be tough; the intensity they’re going to bring to their game is something we must match first and foremost.
"You’ve got to be happy with five from five, albeit we probably left a bonus point or two out there.
"The last couple of weeks we haven’t quite been at our best but we’ve managed to win. We know it’s a different kettle of fish this week."
The Sportsground collision kicks off an intense period for the Ulster men as they begin their Champions Cup odyssey in Bordeaux before a Kingspan Stadium face-off with Exeter Chiefs and a Pro12 derby against Munster.
Kiss is hoping the scale of the challenge pushes his men to greater heights: "It’s a month of massively important games that can really define your season in a big way," he said.
"We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground. We’ve done a lot of good things but we’ve got a lot of improvement to do.
“We get Munster the other side of the European games. They bookend Bordeaux away, which is going to be a massive challenge, and Exeter at home.
“I’m confident that we’re doing some good things... but Europe really concentrates the mind. Bordeaux, they are a very exciting team.
"They play a style of rugby I love and it does frighten me. My confidence is tempered by the fact we’re coming up against a couple of good teams."
