Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has backed Ireland international centre Robbie Henshaw to do a job in the back-row, if he is called upon on Saturday.
The defending URC champions are in Durban to take on the Sharks, but injuries in camp have forced them to go bold on the bench.
With Scott Penny and Max Deegan having flown home to Dublin due to injury, Cullen has taken a punt on 33-year-old Henshaw to be the hybrid forward if needed, despite starting at inside centre.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Cullen outlined the thought process behind the move.
"We've seen Robbie do that role for us last season without really any prep. This week we've actually managed to get a bit of prep into him," he explained.
"He'll be able to cover that if needs be. Brian Deeney can cover the (number) six role as well, a few different options there, which we've played around with this week.
"Sometimes when you're on tour, it's needs must. It's good for the group, I think. It sets us up well for the season, hopefully."
He went on to stress that versatility can be a huge benefit when you have less numbers on tour, although Leinster did select a 42-man travelling party for this trip.
Leinster come into Saturday's game still searching for a first win of the season. They were pipped 27-26 by the Lions last time out, as their imperfect record in the southern hemisphere continued.
For Cullen, there were enough positives to take from the narrow loss not to be too disappointed.
"I thought there was a lot of really good, positive moments", Cullen said.
"We had a lot of possession, a lot of territory in the game, particularly in the first half. We probably didn't really capitalise fully on some of the opportunities and some of the field position territory that we were creating and getting during the course of the game."
Leinster did score a last-minute try courtesy of hooker Stephen Smyth to leave with both a losing bonus point and a try bonus point, but two points from five is not something Cullen wants to get too comfortable with.
"I don't want us to be happy losers, coming away with two points and thinking that's a great outcome," he added.
"There was definitely parts of the game we need to have a proper good look at, learn from, improve as a group.
"It's positive in that there's lots of young players who get the experience, but it's only experience if you make it truly worthwhile."
One of the older cohort who stood out for the visitors on the day was Andrew Porter. In his first start on the tighthead side of the scrum since May of 2021, the Ireland star impressed and added to the claims he could make a permanent switch back in the near future.
As expected, Cullen was effusive in his praise for the 30-year-old.
"Andrew is remarkable, really. He didn't really skip a beat.
"He was really good in terms of build-up to the game (with) lots of really positive stuff there as well during the game.
"(Now) back to his more familiar role as a loose head, but it was something we wanted to try. We have a few senior looseheads that are currently injured at the moment as well. That's why it was always going to be a little bit of a short-term experiment for us.
"It gives us another really good option as the season goes on."
Porter returns to the loosehead side on Saturday, with Ronan Kelleher and Tom Clarkson rounding out a mean front-row. Despite their Test experience, Cullen is under no illusions about the task at hand against the Sharks contingent.
"It's going to be a great challenge for Tom, up against Thomas Du Toit at loosehead for the Sharks." Cullen added.
"Most of his rugby has been at tighthead with Bath in the last couple of seasons.
"And Vincent Koch, obviously a World Cup winner on the other side of the scrum as well.
"Great test for our lads this week."
