The defending Guinness PRO14 champions notched 35 points against both Montpellier and Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup so far and are just one of two Pool A sides to secure a maximum 10 points from the opening two rounds.

“[We’ve made a] great start,” said Kearney. “It’s obviously a bit different now, less games, but I think it's so important, it's going to be so competitive especially at the top so to get the greatest number of points in every game possible is our goal.”

Cullen added: “We’ve got our two wins, two bonus point wins, and that’s all we could really ask for from the guys. Huge effort, trying to get everyone integrated over the last couple of weeks.”

Kearney was one of four try scorers in the 35-19 victory over Northampton last weekend, but he insists the scoreline doesn’t reflect how much of a challenge the Gallagher Premiership side posed.

He said: “They played some really good stuff, caused us a lot of issues on the edges [of the pitch], through the middle – some good kicks they put in behind. The scoreline probably doesn’t fully reflect the game, but we’ll take that result.”

With just four teams making it through to the knockout stage, competition is fierce at the top of the Pool A table. Five teams have secured two wins from two – with Wasps and Leinster the only sides to earn maximum points in the opening two rounds.

Despite the topping the table, Cullen believes his troops can improve yet further when the competition returns in January: “Positive performances, very positive performances, lots of good stuff against Montpellier last week, some good stuff against Northampton, but there's lots of bits we can get better at over the course of both games.

“That’s the exciting challenge now so we’ll see how everyone is after the weekend and look forward.”

Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen and fullback Dave Kearney hope the bonus point victories earned in the opening two rounds of the Heineken Champions Cup will prove vital in the province’s bid to reach the knockout stage.