Stuart Lancaster believes Ireland can reap the rewards of having a consistent set-up heading into the Six Nations.
Andy Farrell's side play their first Test since November when they take on Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday week.
The Ireland squad came together yesterday before heading to Portugal for warm weather training today, and will return next week ahead of the Wales game.
Lancaster is confident that Leinster quartet Josh van der Flier (groin), Tadhg Furlong (calf), James Ryan (hamstring) and Jordan Larmour (face) will be ready.
"From what I've heard, Jordan's fine, Josh, I saw him yesterday and he seemed OK, James is making great progress and Tadhg the same," said Lancaster.
"They fly to Portugal and with a good week's training out there I'd be surprised if they're not in contention."
The four are part of a 16-strong contingent of Leinster players in the Ireland squad.
A dozen of the province's players started the November wins over Japan and New Zealand, and 11 started the Argentina game, with a further three Leinster men on the bench that day.
That one province is dominating in the selection stakes to such a large extent can be seen as unhealthy in one way.
Lancaster's own experience as England head coach was much different from that but believes it gives Ireland an advantage.
"One of the challenges with England was you have 12 teams and usually there were three or four players from most of the top-end clubs, certainly the top eight," said the Blues' senior coach.
"When I first took over, the top teams were Saracens, Bath, Northampton and Leicester.
"But all four played very differently and all clearly believed in the way that they played because they had achieved success.
“What you faced was trying to merge those different opinions from a player’s perspective to ‘right, this is the way we’re going to play’.
"You’re trying to take the best of all the teams - which is a challenge when you have so many teams.
“In Ireland, it's having only four teams which are all different in their own way. But a lot of the emphasis is similar in how the teams are coached, which is why the games are so competitive.
“For Andy, it’s a real strength and you can see the Ulster, Munster and Connacht players getting rewarded for their form.
"The challenge is to create a team that has cohesion and can execute because it’s a results-based business."
If Farrell has a fit squad he will probably go with an all-Leinster front row and back row, an all-Leinster half-back and centre partnership. Eleven or 12 men in blue could again start in green at the Aviva Stadium.
“The one thing I’d say in Ireland’s benefit is they have stability in selection and coaching and a great November Series to bounce off the back of," said Lancaster.
"France made, what, 10 changes, England have got some new players coming in who have not been in the international environment before so Ireland are in a good place.
"All that cohesion builds and builds and builds and the end goal is to have a good 2023 World Cup on the back of that.
"Whether it’s club cohesion like Caelan (Doris), Josh and Jack (Conan) playing together, a lineout caller and a lineout thrower, it’s all important for sure.”
Meanwhile, Lancaster predicts the Champions Cup will spark into life when it resumes after the Six Nations.
The Leinster senior coach is relishing the last 16 showdown with Connacht that will be played over two legs in the second and third weekends in April.
The westerners will be at home first while Leinster are considering the option to switch the second leg from their RDS home to the Aviva Stadium.
“I think once the Six Nations finishes, the European Cup really will come to life," said Lancaster.
"Whether it's the Aviva or the RDS for the second leg, the big factor in this home and away tie is consistency over the two weeks.
"The home and away one is an interesting one. It’s rarely been done in England although it has in England where the Championship-winning team played the Premiership bottom team. I remember Bristol being involved in games like that.
"The closest comparison is when you play those December home and away games in Europe. For example, we played Exeter away and beat them at Sandy Park and then we played them at the Aviva and we were like 14 or 15-0 down in 10 minutes.
"Things change so much in one week that I think they will be fascinating matchups.
"And for us to go to Connacht first of all and have them come back to us, in terms of Irish interest and the crowds they will generate, is going to be fantastic for the game."
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