Away games for the provinces against Welsh opposition during the Six Nations window can fly under the radar but Leinster minds won't wander for their URC trip to Cardiff (Saturday, 7.35pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The same fixture two years ago, just prior to the start of the Six Nations, saw the Welsh side record a first home win over Leinster in 11 years and break a 16-game losing run against Leo Cullen’s then champions.
The visitors that day boasted Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Ciarán Frawley, Ross and Harry Byrne, Sean Cronin, Devin Toner and Will Connors among their number and there was also a debut for lock Joe McCarthy (below).
But a last-gasp Jarrod Evans penalty secured a 29-27 victory at the Cardiff Arms Park and the match has been brought up this week at Leinster HQ.
The eight-time winners are back at the top of the pile and come into this game off a victory over Benetton and a defeat in a friendly against Saracens in London last weekend.
Cardiff, 12th in the standings after just three wins this season, were beaten 16-12 at home in round ten by Connacht having played most of the game with 14 players and for ten minutes with 13 after red and yellow cards for Rey Lee-Lo and Lopeti Timani, respectively.
However, their tally of 31 tries is the fifth best in the league.
"They’ve been one of the better attacking teams when you look at their tries scored and some of the phase-shape they’ve got is really nice," Leinster attack coach Andrew Goodman told RTÉ Sport.
"We’re expecting we’re going to have to be right on with our defence.
"From my point of view, from the threats they pose at the breakdown, they’ve got a number of guys who are very strong over the ball.
"They’ve got good crowds at their last couple of games. It’s important for us to start well away from home."
"We’re looking to build on both those performances [against Benetton and Saracens] in different areas to put in a good performance against Cardiff.
"Thinking back to two years ago, I wasn't here but I heard about the result and the boys have got that in the back of their minds as well."
Meanwhile, winger Rob Russell is hoping to build on a nice run of games in the absence of the more established international players.
The 25-year-old Dubliner featured three times off the bench at the start of the season but has started their last four BKT URC matches, scoring a third try of the year in the New Year’s Day defeat to Ulster.
He said: "It’s gone OK, I’d a few nice games at the start of the year, picked up a few tries.
"I was a little bit disappointed with my game against Benetton, felt a bit rusty when we hadn't had a game for over a month.
"The back-three is extremely competitive when you look at the guys that are with Ireland and the guys that are here so it’s tough to get into the team anyway.
"[I’ve been told] to keep working hard off the ball, try to get involved in the game.
"It’s easy when you are on the wing, for me personally, to let the game pass by you a little bit, trying to stay involved and be assertive and get on the ball a little more is a work-on ."
Cullen will name his team on Friday afternoon and has Ross Byrne and Osborne available with both players having come through the game against Treviso with no problems after arm and shoulder injuries, respectively.
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