As Joe Schmidt begins his final year as Ireland's head coach, there can be fewer places in his starting XV more readily assured to two individuals than those of scrum-half and out-half. Taking an eye to Ireland's Depth Chart at half-back on this morning's OTBAM, Andy Dunne's ranking of Schmidt's options scarcely deviated; Conor Murray at #9, and Johnny Sexton at #10.
However, what of the options beyond this? What if one, or even both Murray and Sexton proved to be unavailable to Schmidt and Ireland throughout a hectic year of Six Nations and Rugby World Cup action?
Well, this is where things got a little bit more complicated for the former Leinster and Connacht man.
Scrum-halves
A veritable certainty to start if fit, Munster's Conor Murray is top of the bill in Dunne's choice for Ireland's scrum-half.
Beyond that, however, the dividing line becomes significantly finer.
"If everyone is fit, I think there is very little difference between [Luke] McGrath and [Kieran] Marmion," Dunne suggested.
"[John] Cooney is a place-kicker and I think if you're bringing three scrum-halves to a World Cup, a guy who can place-kick at his level is worth having as an additional string to his bow."
With this in mind, Dunne foresees a situation where Murray, Cooney and one of McGrath/Marmion are selected come the Autumn.
One area of widespread concern, however, is that of injuries.
"The injury profile across our #9s, all four of them at the moment, is a little worrying," Dunne warned.
"Murray's neck history, McGrath picked up an ankle injury at crucial stages last year, Marmion's had a couple of knocks and now Cooney."
Ultimately, Dunne remains uncertain as to whether Schmidt will actually share his manner of thinking on this.
Out-halves
Given Ireland's strength in the forwards, Andy Dunne painted a picture of Ireland's out-halves as men of leisure.
"We're not seeing out-halves who have to manage their way through chaos," Dunne surmised.
"They are out-halves who are sitting in an armchair the vast majority of time.
"Both [Joey] Carbery and [Ross] Byrne have progressed so significantly in the last 6/12 months that I think it's not as damaging should Johnny [Sexton] pick up a knock anymore."
That being said, it was the Leinster captain who remains the unsurprising certainty as Ireland's #10 as far as Dunne is concerned. Furthermore, while Dunne believes that Ireland's back-up options at #10 are now better than before, there is still the case of Sexton's irreplaceable importance to the Irish set-up as a whole.
"All roads lead to Johnny's decisions," Dunne stated in relation to the Leinster man's commanding presence in the Irish team.
"That's been very effective and it's worked for Irish rugby, and it's worked for Johnny.
"The worry is, should Johnny go, we then have a very different structure on the field.
"There comes a diluted responsibility among the group."
Cautiously confident that Ireland's strength in the half-back line will lead to an enjoyable 2019 for all involved, our next look at the Irish Rugby Depth Chart will take place on Friday morning with former Irish international, Tommy Bowe.
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