Garry Ringrose is almost a 50-cap veteran but Saturday's autumn opener will be the first time the Ireland centre has faced South Africa.
Ringrose was recovering from shoulder injury when the Springboks last visited Dublin in 2017, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw lining up in midfield as Ireland dished out a 38-3 hiding to a visiting side that were in utter disarray.
The latest meeting at the Aviva Stadium will be a much closer affair, with the world champions naming an attacking line-up that includes Cheslin Kolbe at full-back and Damian Willemse at out-half, while the famed 'Bomb Squad’ returns with a six-two split on the bench.
"I only saw the team when I came out after training," said Ringrose, who is expected to win his 45th Ireland cap on Saturday. "They’ve named a strong squad but they could have picked any number of permutations.
"I haven’t played against them before. I have obviously played against a few of the guys at club level but it’s my first crack against South Africa so it’s exciting."
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Ringrose has made an impressive start to the season, which included a stunning two-try cameo on the wing in Leinster’s win over the Cell C Sharks.
The 27-year-old has been pleased with his form and is also willing to wing it for Ireland if required.
"Andy [Farrell] was saying you've to be ready for all eventualities," he said. "I'm happy to go wherever I can get on the pitch. If it's wing, centre, wherever, I'll stick my hand up and give it a crack.
"I started on the wing for my first cap under Leo Cullen, and under Joe [Schmidt] as well, he was always telling me to be ready on the wing.
Former Ireland centre Darren Cave looks ahead to Saturday's game against South Africa
"Even with the World Cup, when the squad is shorter, guys are always challenged to play more than one position, or know what to do.
"As a 13 your relationship with your winger is so important, both defensively and on attack. I guess playing 13 helps when I'm out there, because I know what the guys inside are thinking, and know what the half-backs are thinking, getting a different angle on the game. It's the same for both.
"A lot of teams are attacking now with the wingers getting more and more involved, so it's having the ability to play in the middle, as well as out wide, is expected of most outside backs now."
There were 49 players in training on Tuesday as Farrell prepares for two games in as many days, with Ireland 'A' taking on a New Zealand XV at the RDS on Friday before the senior side tackle South Africa less than 24 hours later.
"I think it benefits the group because you have different teams challenging and preparing for different opposition," said Ringrose.
"In training you see different pictures you wouldn't be exposed to when you're prepping for just one team.
"Training today was really challenging because we were throwing things at each other that we wouldn't have been exposed to before.
"I'm sure South Africa and New Zealand will have come up with things to try and break us down, so to be ready for the unknown is part of the challenge."
Follow a live blog on Ireland v South Africa on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app this Saturday from 5pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
