With three games to play in last season's BKT United Rugby Championship regular season, few would even have dreamed Munster would go on to win the title.
But as the province turn towards their final three games of this campaign, they're starting to click into gear.
At this stage of last season, simply guaranteeing Champions Cup qualification would have been taken by most supporters, particularly after their Round 16 defeat at home to Glasgow.
Those supporters will have loftier expectations now. Through 15 rounds of games, the province have moved up into third place in the table, one back from Leinster in second and five off leaders Glasgow.
A home quarter-final now looks very likely, while a strong finish to the regular season could even see them climb into the top two, which would give a home semi, should they get there.
Their run-in isn't an easy one. Interpros against Connacht and Ulster, albeit at home, bookend an away trip to Edinburgh.
And defence coach Denis Leamy says rather than working themselves up over permutations, the simple solution is to win, and let the table take care of itself.
"There’s three rounds left in the competition, not to be boring or anything like that, but we’ll respect what’s in front of us.
"We’ve a big game at home at the weekend, it’s a big derby game against our closest neighbours [Connacht], and it means an awful lot to both sides and there’s an awful lot on the line.
"We have to take that in isolation, and really look to put a performance and back up what we’ve done over the last couple of weeks. Obviously home advantage is something that’s big picture stuff.
"That's ultimately it, there’ll be a lot of games where there are almost eight-pointers within the league. There’s an awful lot to happen yet and there’ll be a lot of twists and turns in this league.
"It’s a brilliant league, it’s fascinating the way it’s taken shape and the way every game is so important. There’s a huge amount at stake and a huge amount to play for."
While the province's Investec Champions Cup campaign never got going, the defending URC champions have built their way back into form in the league, winning six in a row since this weekend's opponents Connacht beat them in a dour game on New Year's Day.
Victories over Scarlets, Zebre, Ospreys and Cardiff got the ball rolling, even if their performances in those games were mixed.
Graham Rowntree's side really clicked on their recent tour of South Africa though, continuing their great record down in the Rainbow Nation with bonus-point wins over the Bulls and Lions, which have solidified their place in the top four.
"There was loads of stuff to be pleased with over the last couple of weeks and a few work-ons. Definitely, how we set out our plan and how we stuck to that plan, and how the boys maneuvered and played within that was really pleasing.
"We knew against the Lions that we would have to conserve our energy at times and put the ball off the park and back our defence, and I think we played a really smart game and then took the opportunities when they came," Leamy added.
Their 27-22 win over the Bulls was a thriller at Loftus Versfeld, before they defeated the Lions 33-13 in what was arguably their best performance of the season.
In that win in Johannesburg, the province ditched their fast-paced attack in favour of a kick-heavy approach, allowing the Lions hold onto the ball for large chunks of the game.
And their defence coach says it was pleasing to show hos Munster can win in different ways.
"I think we had four tries from four entries [to the 22], which is really pleasing.
"I thought the mantra of the week was to box clever, and it's pleasing that we did box clever.
"We probably had a bit more artillery in terms of the ability to bring powerful players off the bench, and also you saw the power coming through on our scrum and our maul. That’s really pleasing, the different ways we could play the game."
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