Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he expects Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship inter-pro against Munster to be as ferocious as ever, as the pair meet for the first time this season.
Saturday's Round 6 URC game at the Aviva Stadium is set to be close to a full house in Ballsbridge, with 48,000 tickets sold as of Friday morning.
And while for many of Ireland's World Cup internationals this will be a second or even first game back since the Rugby World Cup, the Leinster coach says he expects motivation to be high.
"I think traditionally this has always been such a great fixture over the years, traditionally the season starts in September and you're building up towards Champions Cup. This is very different with the World Cup, but this game takes on a life of its own," he told RTÉ Sport.
"You see that in terms of the interest, it's close to sold out already which is fantastic again, it's a great endorsement for the fixture.
"There's two sets of players that'll fight tooth and nail for their respective teams and that's what people want to see, ultimately. Hopefully it'll be a great spectacle."
Cullen's side come in as favourites, with the league leaders naming their strongest available XV, as they look to gain revenge for last season's semi-final defeat to Munster back in May.
"I think we're still going through that process of getting everyone back together. We're still experimenting with a few different combinations at this time of year. It's a Round 6 game at the end of the day, but a Round 6 game that has bit more significance to it.
"The combinations are taking shape, and guys are working hard. We've a nice competitive group at the moment which is what you want, so we're just exited to get out and see the group play.
"They spend so must time together, our guys, they know each other so well at this point, so it's just getting out there to do their thing, which is playing the game they all love," Cullen [below] added.
Munster are without influential back row pair Peter O'Mahony and Jack O'Donoghue due to injury, while Jean Kleyn and Simon Zebo come in for their first games of the season.
Interestingly, 6ft 8in lock Tom Ahern comes into the back row, packing down at blindside flanker.
And although Cullen says he's aware their opponents are dealing with a busy injury list, he isn't underestimating the defending champions.
"I'd herd that they were nursing a few bangs and bruises, so I'm not too sure what's going on in their camp. Regardless of who's selected, we've seen it over the years whoever is selected will be very competitive and in the contest right to the very end.
"We just have to make sure we stay focused the whole time. It's a game of making sure you take your chances when they come along, being nice and clinical. We know Munster, they'll scrap to the last inch of their goalline.
"We've heard some of the soundbites coming out of their camp this week that they'll be highly motivated coming here again, and will have a lot of belief from the end of last season.
"We have an understanding of what Munster will be, they'll be very, very competitive and they'll be a great challenge."
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