It's not the prime-time slot but the earlier the better for Peter O’Mahony as he tries to calm the nerves.
The Guinness Six Nations resumes after a two-week break this afternoon with Ireland welcoming Wales to the Aviva Stadium for the 2.15pm matinee.
The Calcutta Cup clash of England and Scotland is the weekend’s soiree and the Murrayfield action kicks off at 4.45pm.
And the moment that Andrea Piardi blows the first whistle can’t come soon enough for the new Ireland skipper.
On media duty yesterday afternoon, the 34-year-old Munster man cut a relaxed figure; more often, throughout his long career, it’s been an irksome task.
The stories of O'Mahony’s pre-match nerves have long been on the record and even if he’s about to win his 104th international cap, including one as Lions skipper in 2017, playing for Ireland is something that always induces the butterflies.
"I think probably worse it's getting, you find more ways, you find it easier to combat it," says O’Mahony when asked how he deals with the nerves now.
"It doesn't get any easier. I'd often describe it as doing your Leaving Cert with 60,000 people correcting it live, and another whatever [amount of people] watching at home - except doing it every weekend.
"You've to find a way to find some sleep during the week before your first test.
"It doesn't get any easier, but you do find ways and we've used different tools... it's helped with experience that you know what to do.
"I like to be around people, I don't like to be on my own.
IRELAND v WALES: All you need to know
"I'd often head off for a coffee and as we're going back to the hotel there'd be another group, and I'd turn around and head off again.
"People find their own way, some people like to be left alone and you figure out what's best for you.
"We're lucky with the people around us that we can go to and have a chat with, but your team-mates are the best source of comfort for me.
"If you are nervous, worried about something, sitting down with someone for a couple of minutes over a laptop or a coffee - every time you feel better about it, because a lot of the time fellas are in the same boat.
"You think you're on your own, but you're not, and it alleviates everyone when you go 'Jeez, I'm under pressure here' and you can see a few fellas go 'I'm in the same boat as well'.
"It's good to be nervous, it's part of the love of it is being nervous. You know you're off the boil if you're not."
Somewhat easing the tension today is the early kick-off.
"Personally, the late kick-offs for me are utter torture," says O’Mahony.
"Y'know, waiting around all day to kick a match off. Like the World Cup was the epitome of torture, 9pm in the evening, so you are hanging around all day, waiting for it.
"[Today], which is early kick-off is the best type, you are up, kinda one big grub and you are into into it, getting out of the hotel."
As the press conference drew to a close, the subject of his future at Munster and Ireland was broached.
Reports earlier in the week suggested that he and Conor Murray will have contract extensions signed soon.
"Ah look, I love it. I love playing for Ireland," he said.
"And that's my focus over the next three, four weeks, to enjoy myself.
Like I said, it is a good group, it is a good environment, I'm learning all the time.
"If you tell me I can sit here forever, I'd play forever but that's not the case. As I said, I'll let you when I know when there is white smoke."
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Ireland v Wales in the Guinness Six Nations from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch France v Italy in the Guinness Six Nations on Sunday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
