As things stand, Leinster's season has been a strong one so far.
Domestically, two inter-pro wins in a row over Munster and Connacht has them well placed in their Guinness Pro 14 conference and with two matchdays to go, Leinster are five points clear at the top of their European Rugby Champions Cup pool.
With that springboard heading into the second half of the season, Leinster and Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien chatted to our own Oisin Langan about the season so far and his evolution as a player heading into his 30s.
"We've done well over the last number of weeks, put ourselves in some good positions. But the next three or four weeks of this block are highly important for the rest of the year. So it's an exciting time for us. It's something everyone is looking forward to, something the squad is looking forward to as well and it'll be interesting to see what happens but we're building nicely and we've done a lot of hard work and put ourselves in a good place," he said.
O'Brien also discussed an injury niggle that is keeping him out temporarily but he expects to be back quite soon.
"I've a bit of hip tightness at the minute. It came on me the last few weeks and something I've been trying to manage so I cracked into rehab and it's improved a good bit so it hasn't improved enough this week to be available for selection, but hopefully next week," he said.
Leinster's Sean O'Brien applauds the fans after the Exeter game ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson
And as he prepares to turn 31 next month, O'Brien also discussed the necessary evolution off the pitch to maintain performance levels on the field.
"There are certain things you bring into your training plan and your nutrition side of things as well is massive too. But I think I'm pretty on top of things, that side of things in terms of my nutrition and there were bits and pieces I wasn't looking at myself well enough on," he said.
"But I suppose you evolve as a player. As you get older, you get more experience and again you get to know your body better and better as the years go on too."
Sean O'Brien was speaking at the RDS to launch Life Style Sports' latest fan competition.
