While it would take a brave call for Andy Farrell to tweak a winning formula, it would be take an even braver call to ignore two returning British and Irish Lions.
Ireland's impressive Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales was done so without two of last season's best performers; Irish Rugby's Player of the Year Robbie Henshaw, and one of their turnover leaders Iain Henderson.
Henshaw wasn't risked after picking up a minor injury in the week before the tournament, while Henderson was given extra time to recover from the ankle injury which has sidelined him since December.
However, as the curtain closes on Saturday's 29-7 win against Wales, and attention turns to France in Paris, both players have been declared fully fit by Farrell.
What to do with Henshaw will be the hardest call to make. In the four-and-a-half years since Bundee Aki made his Irish debut, chance has dictated that there have been very few occasions on which he, Henshaw and Garry Ringrose have all been fit and available and fighting for two centre spots.
Possession of the jersey is vital, both Aki and Ringrose hardly put a foot wrong on Saturday, scoring a try apiece as Henshaw watched on, but the Leinster man has credit in the bank from his career-year in 2021, making a clean sweep of the major Irish Rugby awards, while starting all three Test matches on the British and Irish tour of South Africa last summer, reaffirming his status as a Big Game performer.
"We will see," said Farrell on Saturday evening when asked what his plans are for Henshaw's return.
"You guys know as well as us that it's going to take a whole squad over the course the Six Nations to win this competition.
"It's very tough and demanding, not just because of the nature of the games but the length of the competition as well and the competition for places in the squad is always going to be taxing on the players so the conversations are always difficult.
"It doesn't really matter whether it's a British and Irish Lion or a guy that's done it with his first cap, they are always difficult."
The likelihood is for Farrell to stick with the same XV that began Saturday's win, and keep Henshaw (above) in reserve in the 23 jersey which would come at the expense of Ulster's James Hume.
Hume was drafted into the matchday squad last week when it became apparent that Keith Earls would be ruled out, and it was a justified reward for his form in recent months, having been Ulster's star performer in their Heineken Champions Cup pool wins.
The 23-year-old's second cap was a first for him in the Six Nations, playing just under 20 minutes off the bench at the Aviva, and he admits it came as a slight surprise to pick up an appearance so early in the tournament.
"Obviously I was preparing as though I was going to be playing in the first game but the way things were lining up with Robbie (Henshaw), Bundee (Aki) and Garry (Ringrose), I really wasn't expecting much until the Italy game," Hume said.
"To get the call-up for that first game was a great moment. I just had to try to keep calm and composed and do my best.
"I wrote down a load of stuff myself in my notes and I almost made a completely separate page when I found out I was on the bench and just wrote everything down that would reassure me when my mind started wandering.
"Like, 'What if this happens? What if that happens? What if I get really nervous? What if I go on in the first minute?' type of thing.
"I’ve just got those little reminders of why I’m there and the sacrifices I’ve made to get there. I’ve played at a good level before. It’s just another step-up, it’s where I want to be."
The other potential selection call for Farrell regards the returning Henderson (below), with the Ulster captain looking to break into a second row that was rock solid against Wales.
When James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne and Henderson have been available in the past, Farrell has generally chosen Ryan, partnered by one of Beirne and Henderson with the other unleashed early in the second half.
And while it's likely Henderson will take Ryan Baird's place on the bench, Farrell has shown faith to Henderson in the past, starting him over Beirne in Ireland's win against New Zealand in November, despite the Ulster man being on the return from injury.
These are good headaches to have, with no fresh injuries coming from Saturday's opener.
Andrew Conway was dealing with illness in spite of his two-try performance, but Farrell says he's not a concern heading into the France game week.
Fabien Galthie's team will be a huge step up in class for Ireland, despite Les Bleus going through the motions at times in yesterday's 37-10 win against Italy.
18 months ago Ireland travelled to Stade de France in the final round of the delayed championship with a chance of winning the title, before being overpowered in the second half, with the eventual 35-27 French win arguably flattering Ireland.
"I suppose the great test for this group is we've learned a lot of lessons about ourselves in Paris on that night," Farrell added.
"It was a big game when we could have got across the line for the Six Nations and we didn't deliver on the big stage. I feel the group has grown since then. I suppose the proof will be in the pudding.
"You are always hungry to get off to a good start and we have managed to do that. We will lick our wounds tonight and we will prepare properly tomorrow for the French test and there is no doubt about it.
"It is the test of all tests isn't it, at this moment in time?"
