Johnny Sexton is gutted to miss Leinster's potential double winning run-in but is backing his team-mates to get that fifth star on the shirt before he retires.
Sexton's immediate thought after injuring his groin late on in the final 2023 Six Nations clash with England was of what it meant for his Leinster prospects rather than the glorious Grand Slam celebrations that were just minutes away.
He did enjoy the festivities that followed, just as he is looking forward to his fourth and final Rugby World Cup in September and October.
READ MORE: Leinster insist Ronan O'Gara has got it wrong about different demands ahead of Champions Cup final
After undergoing a procedure at the end of June he plans to be back on the training field for the start of Ireland's preparations on June 19.
He will turn 38 less than a month later and, knowing that time waits for no man - not even for him, eventually - the still world-class no 10 knows that he is sitting out the last few weeks of his storied provincial career with Leinster now four games away from the Champions Cup and URC double.
"Oh, it's gutting isn't it," he admitted.
"That was why when I was coming off injured against England you immediately go to how long will I get back because it means a lot to play for Leinster.
"Some other countries it's country first, province second but with all the players in Ireland, of course Ireland is the pinnacle but it's not like a big step down to play for our province, it means a lot to us.
"So, it's very tough to miss the games but that's life. I've never missed a final with Leinster before so it's something new.
"But I'll be wishing the lads well, they're great friends of mine so hoping they do the business and bringing home five stars would be very special.
"I don't think I feel a part of it massively but it will still mean a lot to retire from the club having as many stars as any other club."
Sexton has stayed involved as Leinster prepare for Saturday's URC quarter-final against the Sharks on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, having already progressed to the Champions Cup final at the same venue on May 20.
He was present to urge his team-mates on in the European quarter-final and semi-final victories over Leicester and Toulouse respectively, but he knows it is not the same as playing.
"It's tough watching it for lots of different reasons but the lads are doing brilliantly," he said.
"To get the result against Toulouse like that, I know a lot of people thought it wasn't going to be a similar score line to last year - I saw a few people say particularly that it wouldn't be.
"So for the lads to do that is remarkable - Toulouse came here better prepared after being beaten in a couple of previous semi-finals."
The Dubliner had been stood down for the 2021 semi-final defeat at La Rochelle but did start in last year's final between the sides in Marseille that was claimed in the final moments by Ronan O'Gara's side.
The sides meet again in this season's decider.
"Well, the toughest game is to come," Sexton said.
"Like any Champions Cup you play in the toughest game you play in is the final for many different reasons - pressure, expectation, all these things and it comes down to one day.
"We've been on the wrong side of it the last couple of times, before that we won four European Cups and an Amlin in a row, we never lost one and now we've lost the last two.
"So hopefully the lads will have learned from the last one and will go out and do the business."
Ever the competitor, Sexton made sure he made his mark yesterday when visiting the brand new International Rugby Experience at the heart of Limerick city.
He wasn't able to have a go at the interactive kicking at the JP McManus backed enterprise on O'Connell Street.
But he smiled: "I didn't try a kick and I can't kick but I broke the passing record!
"It's pretty special, isn't it? I've never seen something like this before in rugby, definitely, so it's very unique and I'm delighted to be here to see it and I'm looking forward to coming back with my kids as well.
"Obviously being from Leinster it's tough to expand on rugby in Limerick but it's in the blood down here, isn't it, it's like a religion.
"Rugby and Limerick just go hand in hand and I just think it will be brilliant for the city, it will bring a lot of tourists in and it's another special thing the McManus family have done here."
*A variety of World Cup winners, British & Irish Lions legends and Irish Rugby stars including Bryan Habana, Francois Pienaar, Jonathan Sexton, Joy Neville, Danielle Waterman, Keith Wood, Paul O'Connell, Jeremy Guscott, Matt Dawson, Sean Fitzpatrick, Martin Johnson, Peter Stringer, Ciara Griffin and Rory Best were among the inaugural visitors to the six-storey 'Home of Legends' at the International Rugby Experience.
From today the general public can visit the Experience. With tickets priced at €10 for children (under 18) and €15 for adults. Individuals and families can discover what it takes to Become a Legend, following the game from grass roots right up to the players, clubs and nations that have reached legendary status.
Advance, online bookings now available online at www.internationalrugbyexperience.com from 15th May.
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