The lessons of last season having been fully absorbed, Leinster - like Munster - are easing their Lions back to the frontline. Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, two of their remaining quintet of summer tourists on that dismal odyssey to New Zealand, will be confined to replacement roles against the Dragons in Donnybrook this Friday.
Such are the demands of the modern season that the elite player, even when fit, is obliged to mark time. A place on the bench is nothing especially new for Horgan, who collected six number-22 Lions jerseys since his last start, on June 8th against Taranaki.
Gordon D'Arcy might join them on the bench at a push, or else wait a fortnight for the visit of Ulster, while Malcolm O'Kelly and Brian O'Driscoll are probably a couple of months away yet.
Cheika admitted it was a delicate balancing act between "the requirements of the season ahead and wanting to get the players into playing football, which is what they love doing". He described Reggie Corrigan as having a very high probability of playing, but Eric Miller a very low probability.
The new coach has the benefit of having watched the Dragons play on Tuesday night in their tough, 15-9 defeat to the Ospreys.
"It was a very physical encounter. One thing is for sure, that whenever you play the Welsh teams it will be physical. You can see the rugby league influence of (Chris) Anderson, who was their coach last year. They're very well drilled on the small things, like their chargedown game, their kick-chase game.
"When we make a small error, it might be a knockback or something, that's a real trigger for them to come through and apply big pressure, and that's the type of game they play; very high pressure, high intensity and physical at the breakdown."
Hickie, back in training for six weeks and itching for a first outing since July 5th, quipped: "Obviously starting off the season with a new coach is nothing new for me as a player here in Leinster, but it has actually been good. With Knoxie (David Knox) and Cheks it's been a different approach.
"I suppose if you've been through a long season like last year, it's good to have something different to come back to. It's an extra kind of boost you maybe need if you've been away for a while."
Cheika's fondness for a running game should suit Hickie and co.
"I think our game will evolve as the season goes on," said the winger. "Like everything it takes a little bit of getting used to different styles of play but it's the kind of game I'd like to be involved in."
It has to be said, Leinster haven't exactly hit the ground running. Inevitably, there's been a getting-to-know-you period between the new coaching ticket and players, compounded by a significant turnover in personnel, several stalwarts, especially up front, having moved on.
Cheika admits the performances haven't been much but maintains he saw progress in last week's win over Glasgow. "We need to be more flexible and we'll definitely be more flexible in our approach to the game this week according to the opposition.
"Totally different styles. Number one, for example, backline defence. You've got to adjust the way you play accordingly, but overall I feel we're pretty well on track."
In the longer term, the province's academy programme has been validated by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council and the internationally recognised diploma players earn at the end of their three-year cycle, in addition to whatever college degree they obtain, will be a level-seven qualification - effectively a bachelor degree.
Making the announcement, Séamus Puirséil, chief executive of Hetac, said: "This gives players additional career opportunities when retiring from the game or if, for whatever reason, a professional career does not materialise."
Colin McEntee, who manages the Leinster academy, said: "What we're really looking at is a holistic approach to the player, rather than just having the academy looking at the rugby and technical sides.
"With Hetac on board it keeps the accountability and credibility of the programme at a very high standard and it'll be interesting to see in three years' time what we produce."