Rory Scannell back at the centre for Munster as his 200th appearance approaches

They have shared pitches at Presentation Brothers College in Cork, with Dolphin and, in 2016, they became the first pair of brothers to start for their province in what was then a PRO12 game for game against the Dragons in Wales.

A year later and they became the first Munster siblings to line out in a Test game together for Ireland during the professional era, joining blueblood rugby families that included the Wallaces, Easterbys, Bests and Kearneys.

We should probably pause and note here that, while Paul and David Wallace played in green together, as did Richard and Paul, there was no Munster link either time given Paul played his provincial rugby for Leinster.

Rory Scannell will earn his 192nd Munster cap against Leinster on Friday, elder brother Niall his 190th. It’s an extraordinary contribution from one bloodline, it's one that will likely only sink in once the business of week to week is done for good.

“It’s not something I target,” said Rory. “The main thing is being fit and healthy. I had a bad injury at the end of last season, so just getting back into the swing of things the last few weeks. Hopefully, if I can stay fit, hopefully that will come this season, please God.

“Niall is only a few behind as well. So as long as we're fit and healthy, hopefully, we have a good chance to reaching it, but it's not something you think about too much. It'll be, obviously, a massive honour to reach it if I could.”

The looming cloud that is injury is always somewhere on a player’s horizon.

Scannell felt he was coming in to a good bit of form at the end of last season when he injured his ankle in a URC game against Ulster. That left him with a four-month rehab and wearing a moon boot for his wedding just three weeks into it.

“We threw on the shoe for photos, but, yeah, it was in the in the boot for most of the day.”

The absence was little fun. Like most players, he missed being in the middle of the changing-room rhythm, away from the rest of the squad, but other injuries in the midfield reopened the door sooner than expected as fitness neared.

Scannell was speaking to the media earlier this week just minutes after a bulletin dropped explaining that Alex Nankivell would be requiring a scan on the hamstring injury he suffered during the win away to Ulster last Friday.

The Kiwi has been exceptional since his arrival from New Zealand and in a No.12 shirt that Scannell has worn so many times. Munster will need their versatile 31-year old to build on the four appearances he has made since becoming available for selection again.

And lining up alongside him against Leinster will be another successful signing.

Tom Farrell has had to take the scenic route to his current station. Born in Dublin, his career diverted through Bedford and Connacht before landing him in Limerick, and his form has been sublime through eleven appearances to date.

Unlike Scannell, Farrell’s provincial form never earned him a cap in a midfield area that is populated by genuine world-class talent in the forms of Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki although he did make the wider squad five years ago.

Henshaw, Ringrose and Aki are still lording it in the Irish centre but such is Farrell’s form in red that he must surely be turning heads on that coaching staff. His hat-trick in Belfast was sublime but only the cherry on top of so much else.

“He's been excellent since he's come in. In fairness, I would've played with Tom at U20s and stuff. So I know him from a long time ago now, but, he's been great. He's been excellent in attack, as we saw at the weekend.

“He has a great engine and his skill set as well, his ability to get the ball away in heavy traffic is one of his massive strengths. He's shown that consistently so far this season.

"Hopefully, there's a lot more to come from him. He's settling in well. He's been excellent for us so far.”