Leinster are starting a new Guinness Pro14 campaign with two of their most experienced campaigners no longer part of the set-up.
As former Ireland internationals Rob Kearney - on his way to Western Force in Perth - and Fergus McFadden move onto new chapters, Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park told RTÉ Sport that their absence can be felt.
"Unreal," he said of the experience of playing alongside long-time Leinster stalwart Kearney since his own arrival at the province from Hurricanes in 2016.
"He's an incredibly intelligent guy and I feel privileged to have played with him and Fergus, a couple of great lads, and they will be sorely missed.
"It was even quiet in here today just without the two of them, it's kind of weird. It'll take a while to get used to.
"Especially, Fergie's always the life of the dressing room but that's rugby, man, stuff moves on quickly but I wish them all the best.
"A couple of great lads and when the time is right, hopefully we can catch up and celebrate their careers properly."
While Gibson-Park and his remaining Leinster colleagues immediately turn their thoughts to bouncing back from their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Saracens in the Guinness Pro14 season opener against Dragons on Friday, there is potential for him to be on Ireland's radar.
The New Zealand-born nine has been eligible for Ireland since 2019.
"I hope so but the first port of call for me is I have to get in the nine jumper for Leinster. It's a pretty stiff competition with Luke [McGrath] at the moment as well as the two younger guys coming through and training pretty well," he said, adding that he had "chatted with [ former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt] a couple of times" before last year's Rugby World Cup.
