One of the biggest calls made by Andy Farrell in his 35-man squad for this summer's tour of South Africa was a reshuffle of the depth-chart at out-half.
Jack Crowley has taken over as first choice 10 since Johnny Sexton's post-World Cup retirement, while the versatile Ciarán Frawley appears to have made himself next cab off the rank, while also being able to cover centre and full-back.
Behind that pair, Leinster's Sam Prendergast has leapfrogged his provincial teammates Ross and Harry Byrne in the pecking order, earning his first full call-up to the senior squad.
The 21-year-old has been involved with the senior squad before, training with them for the first few days of their warm-weather camp in Portugal before the Six Nations in January, but the out-half's inclusion in the 35-man squad to travel to South Africa this week is a clear sign that Farrell is keen to fast-track his development, even if it clashes with where Leinster see him in their succession plan.
"I think that his ceiling is very high, he is very confident," Ireland attack coach Mike Catt said of Prendergast, who starred in the Ireland side that won an U20 Six Nations Grand Slam and reached the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship 12 months ago.
"He runs the week very, very well. Obviously for the future he can learn a lot from this environment. Going forward he deserves an opportunity. That is what we have gone with."
Given how Crowley and Frawley are both also relatively new in their Test careers, it's likely Farrell may lean on the pair in his matchday squads for the games in Pretoria and Durban.
But Catt says they have no reservations about throwing Prendergast, and his fellow uncapped squad members Cormac Izuchukwu and Jamie Osborne, in at the deep end if needed.
"You have to be realistic with it ultimately, but if someone drops down, someone gets injured or in some cases if two people get injured in the same position, they have got to be ready. That is our job to make sure that these guys are ready.
"The nice thing is that they are all really there on merit.
"You never know, stranger things have happened on tour in Test weeks where people get opportunities. It’s another opportunity for them to try and find their potential."
In his short senior career to date, Prendergast's temperament has caught the eye, while his wide skillset has also been evident, most recently against Ulster in the URC quarter-final when he almost created a try with a spectacular volleyed pass.
Catt has worked with plenty of top class out-halves in his day, among them Johnny Sexton and Jonny Wilkinson.
And when asked if Prendergast reminded him of any particular player he's worked with, the Ireland assistant gave a diplomatic answer.
"I won't say who it is," Catt said, after a long pause.
"[He's] very confident, I think he's got a very, very high skill-set. He’s got a great torpedo as well, a spiral which is very old school, I love a spiral, that’s why he’s picked. No, it’s his confidence and his aura around the thing and just being with this environment and this group can accelerate his development even more."
The two-Test series with South Africa will be Catt's final tour with this Ireland squad, with the former England international stepping aside after five years working as part of Farrell's management team.
And Catt, who grew up in South Africa, believes a Test series with the Springboks is the perfect way to cap off his time in Ireland, as he prepares to hand the role over to Leinster's Andrew Goodman (above).
"I think, if I look back over the past three or four years it's been the most amazing journey working with these guys. The players have been exceptional, unbelievable people, people. Tough, very diligent in what they do.
"The coaching group as well, I think I’ll look back on the last four or five years with great fondness. Great time, great fun.
"It’d be nice to finish on a high to be honest. I’m not going to lie.
"It's a huge challenge, they are world champions in their own backyard but it’s embracing it and enjoying it; a series win in South Africa has never been done before.
"So again, that is another challenge for this team, the coaches, the backroom staff. Yeah, it is awesome, it is exciting. Let’s go and face it head on," he added.
Follow our live blogs of Ireland's Test series against South Africa (6 and 23 July) on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, and listen to live commentary of both Tests on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
