The Fidelity Securedrive Lions have already achieved so much this Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, and are on the brink of qualifying for their first ever playoff round in the competition’s history.
But in a season of firsts they could do one more - and one that could mean a lot to the team long term as well - a win in Dublin.
It is something that has eluded them as a group over the URC’s history and something that would - in the words of Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg - be “massive” for this team.
It is understandable. The Lions are having a dream season so far, and are currently third on the log, one place ahead of Leinster, the defending champions who they face on Saturday, and every small goal they achieve is a step forward.
But there are some steps that mean a lot more to a group and a win in Dublin would be not only “massive”, as Van den Berg puts it, but lay a marker that they can be a contender for the URC crown.
At the moment, even Lions fans may think their dream run will end sometime before the final, although scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys last week said there was no reason the team couldn’t go all the way.
But given their inconsistency over the past four seasons, finishing outside the top eight when in the final weeks of the competition they were in contention for the playoffs, it is understandable that some fans may not believe just yet.
A win in Dublin, against the odds, would change that. After all, this is the same side that beat Toulon last weekend for the chance to be crowned the best side in Europe, a side of superstars and a virtual Irish test side. As challenges go, this doesn’t get much bigger for the Lions side.
Yeah, I think that'll be massive,” Van den Berg said when asked that question. “Like I say, I think we're at a place where we're really backing our game. If we can prove to ourselves that that game is good enough to beat Leinster at their home, then we can really back ourselves in the playoffs.”
That’s why the game is so much more important for the Lions than a simple away fixture. Last season they were competitive and kept it close, only to concede late in the game and watch Leinster celebrate a 24-6 win that didn’t mirror the reality of the 80 minutes.
Dublin is a hurdle this side wants to overcome, it is a hurdle they feel they need to get over if they want to be considered one of the best sides in the tournament.
“So, yeah, we're going to just take it moment for moment, not get ahead of ourselves this weekend and just really go for it, yeah,” Van den Berg smiled.
And the Lions will go for it. They have a game plan that, on the highveld, put 50 on the log leaders Glasgow, and are a team that have scored the most tries in the competition. They won’t be underestimated by Leinster in the least, and there is also the minor matter of home ground advantage if you finish in the top four for the playoffs.
All that makes this a humdinger from the start. That isn’t something you would have said about this fixture over the past few seasons, but it is a reality now.
And the Lions, as the surprise package of the season, need to embrace it. Van den Berg is right when he says they need to “really go for it”. Leinster may have a bit of a Champions’ Cup hangover they can exploit, but in reality it will be a very tough game.
Few teams come to Dublin and walk away victorious.
If the Lions can do it, it will underline their pedigree and make the competition stand up and notice. It will also prove they can win tough games away from the highveld. And it would be a massive boost for this group.
Massive feels too small to describe what a victory would mean for the Lions. And so it should.