European Cup semi-final countdown: Bragging rights at work come Monday morning and pride of place in general are on the line when Leinster and Munster tussle for a place in the European Cup final in Cardiff (May 20th).
But it's the bottom line that surely made those in the IRFU lick their lips when the two sides were drawn together after quarter-final victories.
In fact, the accounts department at Lansdowne Road might have preferred a quarter-final meeting between two Irish teams as that would have allowed them divvy up all the spoils. Come the semi-finals of European competitions, the ERC step in to take their cut.
"Sponsorship, broadcast-partner deals and gate receipts from designated matches such as the Heineken Cup semis and final are our main source of income," said ERC spokesman John Corcoran.
A figure for the exact revenue that will be generated from Sunday's game was unavailable.
"It can't be taken in isolation as it goes into a pot of sponsorship and TV money as well, but at the end of the tournament the revenues are shared through the national unions."
Television rights, sponsorship and ticket receipts are all funnelled back through the IRFU at the end of each season.
A total of €3 million in ticket sales has been generated across the two European venues this weekend. Most of this will be made from the 49,000 attending Lansdowne Road.
Stand tickets start at €40 and go right up to €55 for the more demanding punter. A terrace ticket is €25, but at least schoolboys/schoolgirls only have to shell out €5. Leinster and Munster have been segregated in the north and south ends.
The 32,000 all-seater Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastian, where Biarritz host Bath, should provide just over €1 million of this total but come the season's end the IRFU, and subsequently the Leinster and Munster Branches, will be seeking their reward for creating such a spectacle.
"The benefit from a Leinster perspective is the knock-on effect," says chief executive Mick Dawson.
"By this I mean corporate lunches (on match day), jersey sales and a general increase in profile of the Leinster brand. Also, season-ticket sales should increase for next year.
"Obviously this season has been substantially more beneficial on a financial scale in comparison to last season, when we made a fairly limp exit in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup against Leicester."
There is also a merit payment, again paid through the IRFU, for each team's progress through the rounds.
In short, the winner on Sunday can demand a greater piece of the European financial pie come the summer.
Thomond Park is about to go under the knife, while Leinster still hold aspirations of getting redevelopment plans for Donnybrook via the rocky path of An Bord Pleanála deliberations some time next year. It all takes money.
The success on the field is expected to yield such benefits. Some €4 million was generated from ticket sales for the four European Cup quarter-finals in Dublin, Toulouse, San Sebastian and Leicester on the first weekend of April.
The Munster Branch undoubtedly did the best here from a packed Lansdowne Road. Although Leinster were in Toulouse, they also reaped the benefits of making it to this stage of the competition as away teams are entitled to 35 per cent of the gate.
"The gate from Toulouse has been split but no actual figure will become available until 28 days after the game," added Dawson.
Back to Sunday. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce predicts a €15-million windfall for the Dublin economy from accommodation, entertainment and the sale of food and drink. They are keen to highlight this is of little benefit to the national economy as those shelling out will be Munster folk.
Still, you won't hear a peep from the taxi men, publicans, restaurateurs and hoteliers of the capital city.
The European Cup final in Cardiff on May 20th is a sell-out as regards public consumption of tickets, although 15,000 have been held in reserve for the two finalists.
Either the Leinster or Munster Branch will have 7,500 tickets on Monday morning. Try getting one of them.
