While there's URC business to attend to first for Munster, Ronan O'Gara and La Rochelle are there in the background.
They always seem to be.
Munster have had to take a back seat for the last decade, latterly watching La Rochelle and Leinster build up a special rivalry in Europe and claiming three titles between them in the last seven years.
They’ll talk all day about being 'next-game focused' and 'just taking it game-by-game' but bubbling away under the surface is the chance to strike a Champions Cup blow and recall the glory days when O’Gara led them to the promised land.
There are five league ties and a Six Nations to enjoy first but the natural romance of Munster heading to France to take on their former out-half means it's inevitable that the last-16 clash, the first time the sides have met, will take on a life of its own.
"There's a tradition there with Rog in relation to what he has achieved here, but they are two unbelievably massive clubs who have huge pedigree in Europe.
"Both have won it. La Rochelle are champions for the last couple of years [2022, 2023].
"Massive, fanatical fan base on both sides, great place to go and visit.
"So, when we do get to April and that game does come up, it's going be massively exciting."
Munster’s European record since winning titles in 2006 and 2008 has been poor; they reached semi-finals in 2018 and 2019, and the quarter-final in 2022.
How long does Lawler reckon it will take to take Munster, currently without a permanent head coach, to reach their previous levels?
"I suppose we don't look at it like that," he says.
"We're just working week-to-week to get ourselves back to where we want to be and where we consider our high performance.
"When you look at the actions and our performance against Saracens [in a 17-12 win], I suppose, that's where we want to be on a consistent basis.
"And it's our challenge now as coaches and players to make sure that that's our standard, and that's where we're pushing week in, week out."
On Saturday, 11th-place Munster are away to Dragons, who are bottom of the URC standings with just one win, in their opening match at home to Ospreys, to their name.
"If you look at Dragons' results over the last couple of months at home, it's a very difficult place to go and play, all their games were one-score games," added Lawler.
"They are really combative and never go away. It's a big task for us."
Meanwhile, Munster have announced that back row Alex Kendellen (above) had signed a two-year extension until 2027, while academy forwards Evan O’Connell and Ruadhán Quinn will move up to senior deals next season.
"Three really impressive individuals," said Lawler.
"Kendo, he’s only 23 yet he’s one of our senior pros already. That says a lot about him as one of our leaders for the future.
"Ruadhán and Evan follow the same ilk.
"Two hungry kids who are mad keen to develop in the game.
"Their diligence, their day-to-day work, their constant want to improve is probably why they are being rewarded with their contracts and layer that on top of how good rugby players they are and it’s just rewards."
On the injury front, Mike Haley suffered an ankle injury at the weekend and was due to have a scan on Tuesday, while Niall Scannell failed a HIA and is in the graduated return-to-play protocols.
Shane Daly is progressing through the graduated return-to-play protocols and his availability will be determined later this week, with John Hodnett (leg injury) also to be assessed.
