Paul O'Connell has backed Leinster's returning Six Nations winners to hit the ground running in the United Rugby Championship tonight as the province welcome the Bulls to the RDS.
Leo Cullen has selected 14 internationals in his matchday squad for the visit of the South Africans, but Ireland assistant coach O'Connell does not expect there to be any ringrust or confusion after two months spent focussing on Test matters.
The majority of Leinster's Test players are well accustomed to flitting between green and blue, with former Munster second-row O'Connell saying experience is key.
"It can be tough, I think for the less experienced guys it is probably tough, for the more experienced guys it is easier. They are used to doing it, they are used to going from province to country and back," said O'Connell, speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
However the switch between Test and provincial duties is easier now, he believes, due to the similarities in how Ireland and Leinster play.
"One of the things that makes it easier from an Ireland and Leinster and provincial perspective is the continuity you have in terms of the coaching.
"There isn't a big change in how you play from one to the other. Leinster play pretty much the same way for a long time now. Ireland have played the same way for a long time now.
"It shows. Ireland in general in the last few years have been very good in how we start tournaments. You might only have 12 days before you play your first game. It shows the players are good at being able to switch from one to the other," adds O'Connell, who today is participating in Team Limerick Clean-up.
It's first versus second in the URC table tonight, with O'Connell expecting top-of-the-table Leinster to prevail against the travelling Bulls - who are a much tougher proposition on their home patch.
"The Bulls have an excellent record at home. It's a difficult place to play, you're playing at altitude. When you go with a province you don't get as much time as you do with a country to acclimatise. You might get six days there, which isn't exactly ideal.
"It will be interesting to see how they do away from home against Leinster. It is tough when you travel, so I would expect Leinster to win.
"A lot of their players are back and excited to finish the season at Leinster. They are generally in the running for silverware in both competitions. They are fighting for places and are excited. They have an incredible bench. I expect them to win."
Watch Munster v Cardiff in the URC on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
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