When the new Guinness Pro 14 rugby season kicks off on September 1st, it's going to be quite different from the Pro 12 before.
But the addition of two new teams from South Africa won't be something Ireland international CJ Stander has never directly experienced before before.
The Munster back row was born and raised in South Africa before moving to Ireland and eventually building an international career here.
Speaking to Off The Ball's Oisin Langan at the Pro 14 launch, Stander is relishing the addition of the two new teams.
"Looking forward to it. I think the two new teams coming in is going to bring something different to the game and a different type of game and I think less games more teams is something to look forward to," he said.
"The season is so long that if you can spare a game here or there, it's going to be good. So looking forward to what's going to be in this for us."
Munster's trip to South Africa to play Cheetahs comes at a particular milestone in his own life.
Pictured today at the launch of the 2016/17 Guinness PRO14 Season (L-R) Tommaso Castello (Zebre) Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Niell Jordaan (Toyota Cheetahs), CJ Stander (Munster), Tiernan O'Halloran (Connacht) and Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
"We're going to be in South Africa in April the week of my birthday so it's nice to see the family there and hopefully, touch wood, I make it over, see the family, play there because I still have family and a few supporters there and it will be nice to go over there once a year to play in front of them and have them around me when it's a special date," he said, before touching on the brand of rugby both Cheetahs and Southern Kings will bring to the Pro 14.
"They bring a bit of a different game, a bit more expansive. They play the ball off the floor with a few offloads and a few nice kicks. They keep the ball all the time both teams. In fairness to them in the Super Rugby, they took a few big scalps this year. The Kings beat the Waratahs and the Cheetahs beat the Bulls so it's going to be tough competition."
Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus will be returning to his native South Africa for a role within the national team setup there and Stander said of he and his provincial team-mates, "we're all proud of him".
"They created a job for him that wasn't there in history," he added, explaining that Erasmus has left a good structure behind for successors as well as a "good core of leadership" within the playing staff.
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