Three games, three different starting out-halves, but the man last in possession of the Leinster 10 jersey looks to be in pole position to start against Munster.
Sam Prendergast started against Edinburgh but is away with Emerging Ireland.
Ross Byrne began the "clunky" win over Dragons in round two, scoring a try and two conversions, while Ciarán Frawley got Leinster's second try and kicked six points against Benetton.
After much debate, which also includes Harry Byrne, about Leinster backing one man to make the out-half jersey their own this season, the BKT URC derby against rivals Munster this Saturday in Croke Park (5.45pm, live on RTÉ) is seen as a potential statement of intent on that front.
Put to forwards coach Robin McBryde about Frawley, who kicked two late dropgoals in Ireland's win over South Africa in July, being favourite to get the nod, the former Wales forward told RTÉ Sport: "That’s the nature of competition for places.
"If you are given the shirt and opportunity and take your chance and you don’t give the coaches a reason not to select you, that’s the goal.
"You put the ball in the other fella’s court and you say, 'right, you have to bring your ‘A’ game to training, day in, day out, good habits every training session’.
"That’s what we strive for, we want them to drive each in order to be successful and we haven’t done that for three years so it’s about time we upped our game a little bit."
The province places huge value on bringing through academy graduates and the benefits this has to the growth and sustainability of the club on a long-term basis.
By March of the 2022/23 season, Cullen had used 61 players across the URC and Champions Cup and, with Leinster the bulk supplier to the national team, regularly need to use the wide squad.
However, they are now three years without a trophy and there’s building pressure to get over the line.
McBryde (below) was asked about the possibility of Leinster streamlining their matchday squads in order to build cohesion.
"It’s an interesting debate, one we have on a regular basis," he said.
"‘From the Ground Up’ - that’s what we strive to do here, building a legacy etc.
"And I think there’s a pressure on us to develop future international players. From my experience being here, the quality coming through the academy system is second to none, which adds to the competitive nature of training.
"I don’t know the answer to that question, I understand why it’s being asked.
"You need to keep these boys motivated, you can’t play more than 15 or 23, but in order to maintain the cohesion in that group...not everyone can have an opportunity, it’s tough.
"I don’t know what the answer is because of the number of internationals we have, they tend to leave us en bloc and then come back en bloc."
McBryde was speaking after the province, who top the table with 15 points, issued an injury update with Ireland hooker Rónan Kelleher (below) the headline name after coming off early in Treviso with an ankle injury.
He was replaced by Lee Barron.
With Dan Sheehan on the long-term injury list, Gus McCarthy will rejoin the club after two games of the Emerging Ireland tour.
"He’s still being assessed so it’s not ideal," said McBryde of the 26-year-old Ireland hooker. "It will be great to get Gus back with us, yeah, got to cover all bases really.
"[Gus has] had a great start to the season, he’s impressed when he’s been given the opportunity, and on the back of two strong performances for the Emerging Ireland team, it’s been a great start to the season."
Jordan Larmour missed the 35-5 win in Italy, while Jimmy O’Brien came off in the first half, both Ireland wings are to be assessed further this week for hamstring issues, while debutant RG Snyman came through with no problems after recovering from a foot injury.
Watch Leinster v Munster in the URC on Saturday from 5pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary with Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
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