The next few weeks will add to Jordan Larmour's frustration but the Leinster and Ireland winger vows to return as his free-wheeling best self.
It has been a tough 18 months for the 24-year-old after a spectacular breakthrough period for his province and country.
Larmour suffered a dislocated shoulder in October 2020 and, when he returned, made only two starts for Ireland last year, and was left out of the November series.
But he showed good form for Leinster and looked particularly sharp in the run-up to the Six Nations, only to suffer the hip flexor injury that ruled him out of the championship.
It still rules him out of Saturday's URC showdown with Munster at Thomond Park and it will be a few weeks before he can return - the Champions Cup round of 16 clashes with Connacht also look beyond him now.
"It can be tough at times, not getting selected, picking up a few injuries, kind of having a few setbacks," he said. "You want to be playing in these games, especially a Six Nations.
"But it's just important to keep a positive mindset - all I can really do is just show up every day and work as hard as I can.
"That's what I try to focus on - working hard, doing all I can to get back being selected and keeping the body in good health so I'm not picking up injuries.
“But yeah, it can be tough. It can take a hit to your confidence."
Larmour, who yesterday launched the 2022 Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer Camps, is thankful that he can turn to his girlfriend, his family and close friends for support.
"They keep you level-headed," he reflected. "They're very proud of me, they always tell me that and I kind of lean on them. I'm very appreciative of them."
Team-mates and coaches also provide that support that is needed.
"It's just important that your mindset is in a good spot and you're working hard, setting goals to get back to where you want to be," Larmour said.
"It's just trying to stay positive and keep working hard. That’s all you can do, really."
Senior Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster said recently that despite the setbacks, Larmour had improved from the young player who burst onto the scene - when a scintillating Thomond Park try was part of his early highlights package.
Larmour insists he remains the same player. “To be honest, I don’t think I've gone away from that kid when I’d just broken onto the scene," he said.
"Maybe I’ve matured a bit more but I’m just playing what I’m seeing in front of me, going out there and expressing myself.
“Maybe there was a few games where I’ve been overthinking it or not backing myself, that’s when I might have had a bad performance.
"But I try to do my best, just go out and have fun, express myself and not overthink things. Just kind of go for it."
Ireland's July trip to New Zealand is at the back of his mind but his short term focus is on returning to the action. And he's excited to see how Saturday unfolds.
"Both teams always bring their best and we know how big the rivalry is," he remarked.
"We've lost down there and they always hurt the most.
"It's a really exciting game, one you want to be playing in. You feed off the crowd's energy, it's just a great place to play.”
*The 2022 Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer Camps were officially launched at St Mary’s College RFC by Jordan Larmour.
The summer camps are open to boys and girls aged six to 12. All of the camps are run by fully accredited IRFU coaches, while each camp runs from Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 1pm.
The summer camps, which will take place in 29 different locations all across the province in July and August, offering children the chance to learn to play the Leinster way while having plenty of fun.
The first camps get underway in Wexford Wanderers, North Kildare, Wanderers, Seapoint and Carlingford Knights RFC on Monday, 4 July.
