Munster defence coach Denis Leamy is confident the province is ready to step onto the treadmill of European rugby as they gear up for their Investec Champions Cup pool opener at Bath on Saturday.
They slipped to a first defeat of the Clayton McMillan era last weekend when Stormers wrestled back control of their URC clash to prevail 27-21 at Thomond Park.
Some lessons were learned; and perhaps the arrival of experienced tighthead Michael Ala'alatoa this week could help to remedy them. Munster will, however, travel to the Rec without back-rower Jack O'Donoghue who failed a HIA after colliding with a knee.
Leamy admitted there's issues that need to be fixed if Munster are to plunder victory in England, but he was also keen to stress that a decent foundation has been laid in the early part of the season.
"It's been a pretty good start," he said. "Obviously, Saturday night was disappointing, but all things considered, a good start to the season. We're right up there.
"There's plenty to work on, we're at the stage of the season where those things are going to pop up.
"We had another challenging game on Saturday against the Stormers. We raised a few questions around certain aspects of our game that we're focusing on now. It's a continuous assessment and hopefully we'll get better and better as the season goes on."
On what Ala'alatoa can potentially bring to the team, Leamy went on: "I know Michael from our time with Leinster together. He's a really good guy. He's somebody that will fit in really well around this place.
"He's just obviously getting a handle on basic calling systems and, I'd say, just getting to know people. First day in, but I think it's considered a very good start."
Johann van Graan brought his Bath side to Virgin Media Park for a tune-up in September, the teams playing out a 28-all draw. It was a nice return to Cork for Van Graan, who led Munster up until 2022.
Pleasantries will be put aside until after Saturday night's game, with Leamy offering his own assessment of the reigning Premiership champions: "Very similar teams, really, in terms of the power game. Very good up front around the scrum, around the line of all fundamentals of the game. Really strong kicking game, sprinkled with that stardust and that ability to create through a player like Finn Russell.
"You think of their back line, Henry Arundell, [Ollie] Lawrence, [Max] Ojomoh. They've got quality that can hurt you.
"It's a great challenge and it's a great place to play rugby. Bath is a big rugby town. It's a huge challenge and it's one that we're getting prepared for and getting in a frame of mind to go and put our best foot forward."
As a player, Leamy won Heineken Cups with Munster in 2006 and 2008. He's been there for the very best moments, and knows exactly how success in Europe can electrify a dressing room.
"These are special days," he added. "The club has a long and illustrious history in the competition. The folklore around Munster in Europe is well documented. It's another opportunity for us to build on that and to add our own little bit of chapter to it. It's something we're very excited about.
"Getting points on the board is huge. That's what it's about. To go to Bath and put in a performance that would be good enough to win the game would be huge. It's never easy and it won't be easy at the weekend, no matter what team Bath put out.
"We're up for the challenge and we feel that we've got a very good squad. It's growing nicely. I think there's a confidence within the team and that's growing with every day. It's a great opportunity to go and put in a performance that we're proud of."
