Josh van der Flier says winning a fifth star would be a fitting tribute to Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster, who depart Leinster at the end of the season.
Leo Cullen's men host La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup final on Saturday [4.45pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player] aiming to add to their European successes from 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018.
Senior coach Lancaster joined in 2016 and is moving to Paris to take charge with Racing 92, while captain Sexton, who misses out with a groin injury, is to retire following the World Cup.
In addition, hooker James Tracy retired due to injury in December, while wing Dave Kearney departs the province after a 14-year stint.
World player of the year Van der Flier has gone from a back row option to a nailed-on starter over the last few years and spoke about the influence of former England boss Lancaster on his development.
"I don’t think you need much more motivation for a game like this but I think Stuart has done so much for me personally since he’s come to Leinster," the 30-year-old told RTÉ Sport.
"As a former No 7 himself, he’s been invaluable to me and has helped me grow as a player a huge amount.
"Johnny, in the same way, has made this club the success it has been over the last number of years that he’s been involved.
"It’s no coincidence really, and the same with Ireland, so they are two people who have motivated me a huge amount and even looking at the like of Dave Kearney, he’s been there for so many of the great days and Leinster.
"There's a number of players all throughout the squad.
"James Tracy, who unfortunately had to retire earlier in the season, they all motivate you, you want to do it for them because they are part of that Leinster family.
"In terms of motivation, playing in front of our home fans, our families, there will be no shortage of motivation. Stuart and Johnny [above left] will be in the back of my mind playing the game anyway.
"I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned specifically [within the group], it might be later in the week but it’s definitely something I’ll be thinking of personally, in terms of my own motivation."
Leinster are bidding to buck a two-game losing streak against Ronan O’Gara’s side, who sit second in the Top 14 and beat them in the 2021 semi-final and the 2022 final.
"They’ve been brilliant all season, as they have been for the last three years, to get to three Heineken Champions Cup finals in a row is very impressive," said the wing forward, who will make his 128th Leinster appearance at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
"Full credit to them, they’ve shown their consistency. They’ve got dangerous backs, really big physical pack and they have shown their class and consistency over the last few years.
"It will be a big challenge, the same as last year. They have some individuals who are key to the way they play, they use them pretty well and we expect a tough game against a brilliant team."
Meanwhile, Dillyn Leyds [above], last year's man of the match in the final in Marseille, says the rematch is set up perfectly for Leinster.
"I won’t say it’s a bit of revenge but from Leinster’s point of view I think this is the perfect final for them, having another shot at us," said the South Africa winger, who joined La Rochelle in 2020.
"We’re the defending champions and we want to go out there firing shots as well.
"Last year we wanted to take the initiative and play and not wait for them to come at us and realise, 's***, we’re 14 points down, now we’ve got to start playing rugby’.
"We know they are a team that starts really quick and we want to make sure that we match them. If they are going to come out of the blocks firing, we don’t want to be looking up at the scoreboard after five minutes in Dublin and we’re chasing the game already.
"We saw in that semi-final against Toulouse how quickly they got out of the blocks and from there on Toulouse were chasing the game.
"Last year gives us a lot of confidence that we can break them but we also know that they have the ability to do the same to us."
Watch the Heineken Champions Cup final, Leinster v La Rochelle, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Saturday from 4pm, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport or listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
