The strength in depth Leinster Rugby possess will be a crucial factor leading into the Heineken Champions Cup final, according to hooker Dan Sheehan.

The Irish province crushed Stade Toulousain in the semifinals last Saturday, 41-22, and will play Stade Rochelais in the final in Dublin on May 20 – the team that defeated them in last year’s showpiece game.

With Leinster also involved in the BKT United Rugby Championship playoffs, Sheehan, who scored Leinster’s third try against Toulouse, explained that the next three weeks will be a huge squad effort.

“We’ve got four big games coming up, and the likelihood of that same team being picked for the next four games is unlikely,” he noted. “So, that’s a great thing Leinster has done. They’ve set up a squad that has huge depth in every position, so it shouldn’t be a problem if we lose a few along the way.

We're still dreaming of the semi-final weekend 🤩

Here's how the @LeinsterRugby players reacted 👇#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/VCe7u3AmhM

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 3, 2023

“It’s exceptional. For Charlie [Ngatai], particularly, to come back after four months out and put in a performance like that [against Toulouse] is something special.

“And it’s something we need to have throughout the squad, throughout the whole team, because you pick up bumps and bruises.

“The season we have had, the depth that we have in the squad [gives us more confidence].

“I think our set-piece has been excellent so far this year. We are an improved squad. We have that winning mentality, and hopefully, in a few weeks, we will come fully prepped and be able to do the job.

“A big focus for us is making sure that we are peaking. There is plenty more in us. We want to peak here for the finals.”

Meanwhile, after grabbing a try brace against Toulouse, No. 8 Jack Conan detailed the progress Leinster believes it has made in the past year and how hungry the team is for a first Heineken Champions Cup title since 2018.

Again many of you suggested the free-flowing Jules Favre at 12, but the @Oval_Insights numbers show @leinsterrugby's Charlie Ngatai earns the spot 💪#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/v7VQ1j2AqO

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 2, 2023

“Leinster Rugby prides itself on its European pedigree, and we really haven’t been on the level in some regard in the last few years,” he stated. “We’ve fallen short a good few times, all the years really, but 2019 and last year in final.

“We’re massively excited to right a few wrongs, and the lads are in such a good mental headspace more than anything. There’s such clarity and calmness in everything we do.

“We’re able to stay neutral, stay in the moment and just focus on what’s in front of your face, be where your feet are and just worry about that.

“It’s great. We’ve taken a lot of learnings from the Irish setup that we’ve implemented here. We’re not 100% at that level, but we’re pushing to be at that consistently. Our forward pack, in particular, has stood up over the last 12 months.

“I know we probably weren’t at the level last year in the La Rochelle final, but our maul and scrum have really come on in leaps and bounds.

“We’re in a great spot, super-excited and we are where we want to be.”