Mike Prendergast says he's hopeful that all 32 players will see some gametime in Ireland’s summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal next month.
Preparations are under way for the summer tour, which see a Paul O’Connell-led Ireland face Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday 5 July, before moving to Lisbon where they will take on Portugal a week later.
With 16 Ireland internationals currently in Australia with the British and Irish Lions, and experienced pair Iain Henderson and Rob Herring rested, a largely inexperienced squad has been in camp in Dublin since last week.
A group of 37 is currently preparing at the high performance centre in Dublin, with five of those only involved as training panellists; Ulster’s Zac Ward and Jude Postlethwaite, and Munster trio Evan O’Connell, Brian Gleeson and Diarmuid Kilgallen won't be in the touring party, barring further injuries.
And even with 12 uncapped players in the squad of 32 set to travel, Prendergast says they would hope to see every player get minutes across the two weeks.
"That would be the intention," Prendergast, who has been drafted in as attack coach for this tour, said.
"We'll see obviously game by game, without getting too cliched. So ideally, that's why they're in here.
"There's a few lads in, in terms of training with us as well. So our intention will be to get as many guys onto the pitch as we can over the next two weeks.
With Andy Farrell away with the Lions, as well as assistants Andrew Goodman, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty and Johnny Sexton, Prendergast (below) has been drafted in to work under Paul O’Connell, as well as Denis Leamy (defence) and Connacht’s Cullie Tucker (scrum).
"I've known Paul for a long time," added Prendergast, who was head coach of Ireland A for their friendly with England in March.
"We obviously played together and we worked together in Stade Francais a number of years back.
"His knowledge of the game, his understanding, and having someone that's has been here for the last number of years, he gives huge direction for us as coaches, what we're looking for. He has set us up very well.
"It’s been great. The conversations are constant. Always trying to get better, always trying to figure things out, challenging in a very, very good way. That's really good for our growth as well. For myself, Cullie Tucker and Denis to come in, this is good exposure as well in terms of international rugby."
While Prendergast worked with several of this squad for that Ireland A earlier this year, building cohesion is likely to prove a challenge over this next three-week period, with this squad more evenly balanced between the four provinces than the senior Ireland squad usually is.
And the assistant coach believes the spine of regular Ireland internationals, in particular captain Craig Casey (below), will have a big role to play in making sure this tour isn’t treated like a rebadged Ireland A or Emerging Ireland.
"He would be one of our leaders. He's full of energy. He's a student of the game. His leadership, guys will listen because he's a guy who is incredibly diligent.
"He's all over his stuff and you always want people to follow that. So he hasn't been any different than what he would be down in Munster.
"Obviously through the week and through next week that will ramp up from his point of view, I would imagine. But he brings a really good calmness to people as well.
"It’s great to have him as one, within the squad and two, as a captain. So he has all the leadership qualities that you ask for from a person.
"We're fortunate, especially in around that half back area, there's good experience there.
"Stuart McCloskey has been in and around the squad a lot, Ryan Baird, so there's a lot of guys that are well experienced.
"We always talk about leadership on the pitch, off the pitch, but when you get together with a new squad, that's something that you really look for, for your leaders to step up and drive us and show the way.
"And to be fair to them, they've been excellent from what I've seen. Some of it is new to me as well and some of the lads are new to me, and just working with them over the last few days has been really pleasing.
"We've spoken about connecting with people, staff, players, et cetera. That's where we're aiming to get and it's been very, very good so far, I'm very positive."
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