Clayton McMillan says Munster are fully focussed on tomorrow's clash with Cardiff at Thomond Park but that the upcoming derby clash with Leinster is in the back of their minds.
The province began life under their new head coach with a bonus-point win over Scarlets away last weekend and welcome another Welsh region to Limerick for a 7.45pm kick-off on Saturday.
They will entertain Edinburgh in Cork in round three before all attention turns to the mouthwatering Croke Park clash with the defending champions on 18 October.
Captain Tadhg Beirne, who was the British and Irish Lions player of the series, is due to make his return in that tie, while eight of the 12 players listed on yesterday's injury bulletin are potentially on course to be available.
"I have an awareness of it," McMillan said when asked about their forward planning for his first Irish derby.
"We understand what would we like [our team] to look like when we get to that stage. There's a few things that we have to manage so we've got to manage a few injuries.
"We've got to manage a couple of bodies that have been in the international space that can't play every game in the lead-up to that game.
"It's a bit of a balancing act.
"In that respect, yeah, we have got a little bit of an eye, as we always would have, to two or three weeks in advance, but our mindset and where our focus is what's right in front of us and for this week it's Cardiff and only Cardiff."
The Welsh visitors opened their campaign with a 33-20 win over Lions in round one.
They will be without centre Ben Thomas who received a red card and has been suspended for three games.
While McMillan (below) has tasted action before at Thomond Park – he was the coach of the All Blacks XV that played Munster in November 2024 – tomorrow night will be his first competitive home game in charge.
He said: "I was rapt to get going last week because we enjoyed our pre-season but it’s like anything, you get over that and you just want to get into the competition element.
"So that couldn’t have come quick enough for us and it was good to get a result. Getting back home is a different sort of excitement. It will be fantastic if we get a bumper crowd this week.
"The guys thrive playing at home here or in Cork, we need to have consistency to our game and part of that is when we play at home making sure it's a fortress and people dislike coming here.
"It's a great opportunity this week to get off on the right foot with that, we know it won't be easy. We've to go and earn everything and that's what we're looking to do. We’ve got one under the belt, we’ve got another good team coming to our hometown and we want to put in a performance.
"Consistency of performance is a massive, I think I’ve probably harped on about that for a long time since I’ve arrived, and even before I arrived.
"There’s a talented rugby team here but we can’t be great one week and then pretty average the next and I think that’s sunk in with the guys. Now it’s about delivering. We’re going to have some off days at the office.
"We won’t be perfect, but we have to learn quickly and if we can win a few on the road but make it really difficult for other teams to win when they come our backyard, then that’s a good starting point."
Cardiff have not won in Ireland since beating Connacht in 2017 and have never won at Thomond Park in 11 visits.
"We're aware of the conditions and we'll adjust accordingly, we're certainly aware of the threat and conversion rate Cardiff get from their maul," McMillan said of the expected inclement weather that is forecast.
"A lot of that comes down to discipline and accuracy. They go hand in hand. We know that they've a good kicking game, they have a good, connected kick-chase line. They'll hurt you if you over play.
"We've got to be smart and accurate around how we receive possession and how we do it."
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