Jean Kleyn quickly rejected the suggestion that Munster are in bonus territory in the BKT URC final and that his side don't just exist to "beat Leinster".
Last winners in 2011, Munster finished in fifth place in the regular season before grinding out a hard-fought victory over Glasgow and then upsetting the odds to beat Leinster at the Aviva Stadium.
Speaking to reporters this week, former Munster and Ireland back row CJ Stander reckoned the project, in year one under Graham Rowntree, was slightly ahead of schedule.
"I thought it was probably going to be next year but it's great to see it happen this year, getting to a final and giving themselves this opportunity," said the 33-year-old.
But a question about not letting the win against Leinster seep in their psyche as any sort of major achievement was given short shrift by the South African native.
"Well, we are absolutely not in bonus territory," the former Stormers man, who has played 135 times for the province, told RTÉ Sport.
"There's nothing bonus about this. This is what we play towards, this is what we've been working the last 48 weeks towards.
"It's a final, it wasn't a victory over Leinster in the semi-final.
"In the greater scheme of things that means absolutely nothing to us.
"Like, why should a victory over Leinster in a semi-final be bigger than a victory over the reigning champions at their home ground?
"You've flown 10,000 kilometres to play in front of a crowd of 55,000 people, of which maybe 53,000 will be Stormers supporters.
"How is that overshadowed by a victory over Leinster!?
"Look, I'm not taking anything away from the victory over Leinster, it was obviously a very big thing for us but that's not the be all and end all.
"That's not why we play. Munster isn't there to beat Leinster, Munster is there to win championships."
Earlier this week, Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani said he believed Joseph Dweba and his team would be able to back up the hooker's claim that the Cape Town side would "f*** them up!", a comment made as the South Africans celebrated Munster's semi-final win, which meant they avoided another long-haul trip to Europe.
"I didn't actually see the video myself," said the 29-year-old lock, who won the last of his five Ireland caps in 2019.
"I don't really take to go looking for those kinds of things and it didn't cross my path. I heard a lot about it, though.
"Look, I think any team that gets a home final would be delighted with it, you know? Whatever was said in the video or whatever happened, I'm not sure.
"But from my perspective, I think if the roles were reversed, we'd be delighted as well.
"So, yeah, I've heard a lot of talk about the video but, to be honest, it's all a load of puff.
"Any team getting a home final after thinking they'd be playing Leinster away - when that's your other option - I think Munster at home seems pretty good. But I'd say we'll see on Saturday what the result leads to.
"We're reading way too much into it.
"From a players standpoint he couldn't exactly have the coach go, 'oh no, we are definitely not going to do that', you know what I mean.
"I'd say they were probably a few beers in after the game, things were said and you can't back down after saying it like that so I think that's as much as is in it.
"Look, we know what we have to go out and do, we are very much up for the battle so we'll see what happens on Saturday.
"We are prepping ourselves to do our best and perform at our highest level and I don't think there's anything else to be said about the video, to be honest."
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