In terms of the depth chart for the Ireland loosehead position, Tom O'Toole wasn't even on the first page.
A look at the All.rugby statistics site shows that from 154 appearances with Ulster, Ireland and Ireland 'A', the prop has only worn the 1 or 17 shirt on two occasions before the start of this Six Nations.
His exposure at loosehead came in a 33-minute run-out for Ireland against Fiji in 2024 and during an 'A' appearance, 54 minutes, in England last year.
The Louth-born Australia-raised forward has never started for Ulster in the position but has switched across mid-game.
As contingency plans go, it's not much to take to the bank.
However, an unfortunate series of injuries to those higher up the list have thrust the 27-year-old into pole position and in the background there's been a loose plan of sorts.
Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy, Jack Boyle, and now Jeremy Loughman are all laid up, and that paved the way for O'Toole to come on as a replacement against Italy and England and then earn a first Six Nations start against Wales on his 20th cap.
"It was a phenomenal week leading up and building into it," he told reporters after the 27-17 win that kept Ireland in the title hunt.
"I think that's [Ireland] game number four at loosehead now so just enjoying that challenge and kind of rolling with it.
"With training, I've switched over multiple times and done that at training throughout the last couple of years.
"The last time I did loosehead was against Benetton last season. Started the game at tighthead and moved over to loosehead when Scott Wilson came on.
"That was my last exposure at loosehead with Ulster.
"But, kind of consistently been working at that over the last couple of years.
"It's something that when I got the taste of it with Ireland against Fiji, it's something I had in the back of my mind that I'll just keep chipping away with it and just keep it in the back locker.
"So I'm glad I've done that work over the last couple years because I've obviously been given an opportunity now.
"It was maybe a difficult transition at the start because there was a lot going through my mind.
"Once I simplified it, and once I talked to the right people, once I narrowed it down, then I found it maybe a little bit easier to get the flow of it.
"I wouldn't necessarily say it's easy, but it's certainly different which I'm kind of enjoying at this stage of my career to be able to play both sides now, which is really promising."
O'Toole's versatility will go in his favour when the World Cup squad is being assembled and he was asked about when the succession planning began.
The forward, who stands 6ft 1in and weighs over 19st, said: "It's something that's always been in the pipeline a little bit.
"I think around that Fiji game a little while ago when I was playing loosehead. Andy just said, 'look, just don't think about it too much, you're loosehead now, that’s the way you have to think'.
"So just try not to give myself any excuses, or any tap-outs.
"The Fiji game, I think I gave away a couple of penalties but it was a good learning for me.
"We got a good couple of successful scrums as well. But it's something that I definitely wanted to show that I'm capable of.
"I had the kind of belief in myself that I could do it, and the right people around me had belief in me as well. It was certainly pleasing to get that confidence from the head coach and from John Fogarty [scrum coach] as well.
"Hopefully it puts me in a good place that when they're looking at me, they know I can cover both sides which is pleasing."
O'Toole, who made his Ireland debut in 2021 against USA and played as tighthead replacement in all five of the Grand Slam campaign in 2023, said the win over Wales was "up there".
"It was a long old day waiting for it to come around compared to the last two games which have been 2.10pm.
"It was phenomenal. Just delighted to get the win."
