Having waited seven years for his first Six Nations start, Finlay Bealham can expect to again wear the No 3 shirt when Ireland tackle France on Saturday.
With Tadhg Furlong still sidelined through injury, Bealham is poised to start back-to-back games for the first time in his Ireland career when the defending champions visit the Aviva Stadium.
The Connacht prop looked at home in the starting line-up in Cardiff, winning a first-half scrum penalty and impressing in the loose as Ireland made a dominant start to the championship.
However, Bealham knows that this weekend represents a step up in quality.
"Similar to the South African pack, they're big and have a lot of weight in there," said Bealham.
"We will have to be properly on it. If you're not on it against big packs like that, you'll be getting the reverse lights.
"We don't want that to happen so we'll make sure we have a good week in training and work best on it as possible."
Bealham admitted he felt a sense of responsibility when slotting in for Furlong in Cardiff, describing the British and Irish Lion as the best tighthead in the world, but he stood up to the challenge.
As well as providing scrum solidity, Bealham made 13 tackles against Wales, missing none, and also broke a couple of tackles in attack.
"Tadhg's left the No 3 jersey in a world-class place so I suppose there is a bit of pressure to come in and try to take off where he left, but I just play my game and focus on what I can do," he said.
"I don't try to play like Tadhg, I just play the way I play.
"It was a good win [against Wales] and I'm happy with some of the scrum stuff, it was good. Certainly I've a bit to work on, yes there was pressure but it is what it is at this level, there's always pressure.
"The more pressure you have the more you're doing right, I suppose."
Bealham has long established himself as the second-choice tighthead under Andy Farrell, who has shown plenty of trust in the 31-year-old. He came off the bench in both Test wins in New Zealand last summer and also in the November successes against world champions South Africa and Australia.
"I love working with Faz and all the coaching staff, it's a really brilliant culture that we have," he said. "Everyone can be themselves and we're all striving and pulling in the same direction.
"The belief that he had in me to come and do a job on Saturday, I had to show that with a good performance. Look, I won't get too carried away with myself or the team won't get too carried away, we have a big test next week so it will be all hands on deck."
Bealham's wife, Sarah, missed his first Six Nations start, although his in-laws were at the Principality Stadium, but she should get another chance to see him in the starting line-up when she travels to the Aviva this weekend.
"My wife is a pharmacist," said Bealham. "We got the games and she prioritised some of the home games coming up, which is fair.
"The one game I got my first start, she's working, so she's gutted but she's good as gold and very supportive."
Watch live coverage of Ireland v France (Saturday 2.15pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
Watch live coverage of England v Italy (Sunday, 3pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
