Joe McCarthy says Leinster's players won't be distracted by trying to force their way into a Champions Cup final squad when they host Munster this weekend.
The province welcome their rivals to Dublin for a BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final this Saturday evening (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), with head coach Leo Cullen likely to keep his squad rotated ahead of their Heineken Champions Cup decider against La Rochelle on 20 May.
McCarthy will be one of several players looking to make a late impression on selection with a big performance in this weekend's URC semi.
However, the 22-year-old says a knockout game against their biggest rivals is more than enough motivation to play well.
"We're really just taking every game as it comes, every game at the moment is massive," the second row said.
"Last week, we were playing a quarter-final against the Sharks and some Springboks, and now we're playing Munster, who are having strong end to the season, and we know how much quality is in their side.
"We're just trying to prepare for Munster, because putting our best foot forward for Munster will set us up for whatever games have after that."
McCarthy says Leinster's own internal competition is driving standards higher and higher.
"Every year it seems like there's more competition, it's great because in training it's so competitive.
"There are two or three full 15s that are all quality players. We've such a high level at training and the competition between all those players brings out the best of us.
"Everyone works well together, the second rows and back rows in their units, but then everyone is competing against each other. The competition drives everyone."
While McCarthy will be hoping to sneak into Cullen's plans for La Rochelle, every game feels like a bonus for him right now.
The lock returned from almost three months out with an ankle injury in last weekend's quarter-final win against the Sharks, having undergone surgery during Ireland's Six Nations campaign in January.
He admits there were initial fears it could have potentially been the end of his season, but once the prospect of getting back to action in May became apparent, he says returning for the business end of the campaign was a huge carrot for him to chase.
"Yeah, early on I thought [it could be season-ending], it was looking tight to see if I could get back for the end of the season, I was a bit worried early on.
"We have a great physio team here, and luckily they got me back a week or two earlier than expected. I was just delighted to get a game under my belt.
"You usually sit down and plan out your injury, and the targets were all basically to get back for knockout games. You're just hoping the lads can get you into a position to be in the knockout games, and trying to get back for them. It definitely made it easier sticking to my rehab knowing what was at the end of it.
"It was great, I played around 15 minutes, but it was great just to get back playing rugby again. No matter how much running you do, there's nothing like playing rugby and getting some bone on bone. It's fantastic to be back, and especially getting a win in a knockout game.
"There's definitely a different edge around the building in the Interpro weeks. You're heightened and aware, you know all the players you're playing against. There's a big rivalry still there, it would be massive to get a win, because we're game to game focused, but ultimately we're trying to win a trophy and this is the next step."
Follow Leinster v Munster via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, watch live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
Follow Stormers v Connacht via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
