Dan Sheehan is adamant Leinster "did absolutely everything right" in the last three years despite falling at the final hurdle in their bid to win a fifth Investec Champions Cup.
Leo Cullen's side last won the title in 2018 and have lost four finals since, including the last three renewals.
They lost narrowly to La Rochelle in 2022 and 2023, and to Toulouse last year after missing a drop-goal to win at the end of normal time.
The four-time winners come up against Northampton Saints at Aviva Stadium in the semi-final on Saturday (5.30pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Sheehan, who scored a hat-trick as a replacement in their round-15 win over Ulster, is back to his best form following a knee injury suffered last summer.
The province prides itself on its European pedigree and the Ireland hooker concedes that going three seasons without a trophy – their last URC title came in 2021 – is a failure by their standards.
But, Sheehan says, they don’t need a major overhaul in their approach as they bid to get over the line.
"It’s easy to look at the last three years as a failure but it’s one of those situations where we did absolutely everything right in the run-up to the final," the 26-year-old said.
"I don’t think it feels massively different [this season], there’s a great buzz and we’re reset, and we’ve left [those defeats] behind.
"There is a great buzz around the changing room but I would have said there was a great buzz around the changing room this time last year in the run-up to the semi-final.
"All the lads are happy with where we are at the moment and the motivation levels are at an all-time high, and we’re looking forward to ripping into Northampton at the weekend."
Asked whether he believed that there is increased pressure on the team to deliver after the last three years, the Dubliner said: "No, I don’t think so.
"We’re exactly where we want to be. We got to all those finals because we trusted our systems and processes and how we prepare.
"I don’t think the group feels a massive expectancy and we’re not looking past the semi-final.
"We’ve made sure all our efforts are going into this weekend and there’s no tomorrow without winning on Saturday.
"Obviously, there’s a bit more motivation to get the job done but [the preparation] is pretty routine."
This season Leinster have added the firepower of Springbok double World Cup winner RG Snyman, All Black Jordie Barrett and experienced France prop Rabah Slimani.
Sheehan, who will make his 69th Leinster appearance if he plays against the English Premiership side on Saturday, believes the new blood has mixed well with the core of the team, who have suffered just two defeats this season.
"Obviously, their experience, all three coming from different environments, has definitely added," he said.
"They’ve had a massive impact and hopefully we can keep that going and use them to the best of our ability.
"The core of the team has been much the same over the last while, a lot of Leinster lads who have grown up here so I think it’s a good combination and we are getting the mix right.
"Hopefully we can keep that marriage going."
Watch the Champions Cup semi-final, Leinster v Northampton Saints, on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
