'I have the opportunity in front of me' - Knox embracing the pressure as he finally gets his chance

We're only three games into the new season, but Keynan Knox has already started as many as he had in each of the last three campaigns.

The 23-year-old has played 28 times for the province in total, but for the majority of his young career to date he has featured off the bench, tagging in to replace either Stephen Archer or John Ryan.

Ryan's departure to Wasps has created an instant gulf of experience in Munster's tighthead ranks however; Archer is out on front with 250 appearances for the province, with Knox the next in line.

With Archer turning 35 in January, the hope down in Munster is that Knox and Roman Salanoa can kick on this season, and build the foundations of a long-term tighthead rotation.

Having joined the Munster academy straight out of school in South Africa almost five years ago, he has supplemented his rugby in the All-Ireland League with Young Munster, earning two starts and a few more appearances off the replacements bench each season for the province.

As expected, he's been tasked with filling Ryan's jersey for the opening rounds of the BKT United Rugby Championship, and with Salanoa currently on duty with Emerging Ireland in South Africa, it has given Knox the opportunity to plant a flag on the teamsheet.

"There's definitely a huge opportunity, and I definitely saw that coming into the season," he said.

"I guess what I needed to tell myself is that nothing needs to change from my perspective, I've been trying to get to that level and play as much as possible over the last few seasons as well, and have been putting in all the work.

"All of a sudden I have the opportunity in front of me, and it's up to me to try and take it and stake my claim on the jersey."

It seemed he was in line for a good run in the first