Leo Cullen is hoping that Leinster rugby fans will see the best of Rieko Ioane in the coming weeks.
The 29-year-old All Blacks centre joined the province on a short-term contract following the autumn internationals last year, coming in on the same terms as compatriot Jordie Barrett, who helped Leinster to a URC title in 2025.
While Barrett hit the ground running and scored seven tries in 15 games, Ioane's impact has been less evident.
The Auckland Blues back has been a solid midfield presence in his nine outings, scoring one try, without hitting the levels reached by Barrett, and Leinster's other marquee signing RG Snyman, who is out for the season with a significant knee injury.
However, Cullen believes that Ioane, capped 88 times by New Zealand and a two-time World Rugby player of the year nominee, will be back to his top form soon.
"One of the big challenges is, when you come in as a foreign player, like for this piece, integrating into the group," said Cullen ahead of Sunday's Champions Cup game against Edinburgh at Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).
"So, the main thing is Rieko is integrated really well into the group because there's moving parts, as we know, because he's come in December.
"He had obviously been away on tour with New Zealand. So, you're trying to get up to speed with lots of different levels.
"And we're chopping and changing our team quite a bit because we try and manage the players over that Christmas period.
"Then you go into Six Nations where there's a big cohort. And so, there's a whole younger group that he's getting to know for the first time again.
"Now we have this sort of stability this time of year. So, hopefully, you'll see the best of Rieko over the next couple of weeks."
Ioane partners Jamie Osborne in midfield for Sunday's game.
Harry Byrne is named at out-half and the versatile Ciarán Frawley gets the nod on the replacements bench, meaning there is no place in the squad for Sam Prendergast.
It's been a disappointing couple of months for the young out-half, who started the first two Six Nations games before being dropped off the panel for the remaining three as Andy Farrell's Ireland picked up the Triple Crown.
The 23-year-old now finds himself out of a Champions Cup panel for the first time in 12 matches.
The Kildare man started nine of their last 11 European games and came off the bench in the other two.
"The big thing is Sam has trained unbelievably well this week," said Cullen when asked about Prendergast's confidence.
"Sam is such a quality player and he's going to be an amazing player.
"And, you know, what he's achieved so far as a very, very young man.
"Listen, this is one selection and we'll see. It's just making sure that we have a very competitive group. And there's other players that have also missed out this week that are serious players.
"Unfortunately you can't put everyone in there, but if we want to be successful in the two competitions, we need everyone to be making sure we're fully engaged as the season goes on and delivering everything we possibly can for the team.
"Harry wins this one. Listen, we'll see how the next few weeks play out."
Leinster, last champions in 2018, topped Pool 3 after wins over Harlequins, Leicester, La Rochelle and Bayonne, while Edinburgh finished fourth in Pool 2 with victories over Toulon and Gloucester and defeats to Castres and Bath.
"We go to the Aviva Stadium with nothing to lose and everything to gain," said head coach Sean Everitt, whose side sit 13th in the URC table.
"This is a group of players who believe in what they're doing, and we’re going out there to have a real go at one of the best sides in Europe.
"We represent the Scottish capital – our supporters who have made the trip to Dublin and those watching back home – and that means a great deal to all of us.
"We’re going to treat this for exactly what it is: a great opportunity to make history for this great club."
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