Andy Farrell says he understands all the "noise" about the rivalry between out-halves Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast but is looking forward to the pair pushing each other on throughout their careers.
Amid constant debate over who should start at 10, the Ireland head coach has opted for Munster's Crowley, 25, to lead the line in Saturday's game against New Zealand in Chicago, with Leinster's Prendergast named on the bench.
Neither man made it into Farrell's British and Irish Lions squad but Prendergast, 22, was preferred for most of last season, while Crowley held the reins for the Six Nations title-winning campaign in 2024.
Munster's strong start to the season, with Crowley especially prominent in their 31-14 victory over Leinster two weeks ago, put the Cork man in pole position.
"I get it, it's the position on the field that everyone always talks about, the history of the shirt as far as Irish rugby is concerned is vast and exciting," said Farrell after naming his team to take on the All Blacks.
"That experience that they went through last year, all the noise, it is just noise... they've got to be able to cope with all that because what's coming down the track is going to be bigger and better than all of that.
"Them being part of that and having to deal with the pressure of all that and come through the other side and get rid of all the rubbish and just deal with the reality, which is playing well, taking control, growing their game, it's a priceless experience that they've been through and I suppose will continue to [go] through.
"Seeing how they keep pushing one another along the way is going to be exciting for us all."
Asked whether 26-cap Crowley's selection meant he had been anointed for the international window or has to fight to keep the shirt for upcoming Tests against Japan, Australia and South Africa, Farrell said: "I'm picking Jack now because he deserved it, first and foremost.
"You don't know what can happen as far as form, injuries, opportunities that come around.
"You are assessing the people who want to compete for that shirt and how they are coping in the background, and when or if their opportunities come, how they grab a hold of that opportunity.
"We constantly talk about being good team-mates in this squad.
"A good team-mate to me is epitomised as being as unbelievably competitive as you possibly can be and pushing, not just yourself, but each other, to get better, so therefore the standards go up within the group, and we've got players who are up for that challenge.
"I reckon it's a nice sweet spot, if you are a good team-mate you are sharing, you are helping, there's a lot of respect there but at the same time you've got a bit of hunger to compete hard for the jersey."
Meanwhile, Farrell revealed that Paddy McCarthy (above, r), who is set to make his senior international debut off the bench, has been on the radar since impressing for the Under-20s over two years ago.
The 22-year-old, younger brother of Ireland lock Joe, was part of Richie Murphy's Grand Slam-winning team, who also reached the World Championship final, in 2023.
The senior Ireland squad traditionally take a training session with the U20s during the Six Nations window. Farrell said loosehead prop McCarthy's promotion to the senior ranks proves the worth of those sessions.
"That's why we train against the Under-20s, so we know who's coming through," he said of the Dubliner, who has started just three of 10 senior appearances for Leinster.
"I get asked 'do you want to train against them this year?' Imagine being in the Under-20s and you didn't get an opportunity to train against the first team and every other year has.
"I reckon it's an unbelievable tradition, because you see people like Paddy, and he was a pain in the arse. He spoiled our session on many occasions, there's something in the eyes there that not a lot of people have got.
"He's been on the radar for a good few years because of how he took it to the senior boys a good few years ago."
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