The Ireland fly-half played a key role in all four of Leinster’s European titles – in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018 - and has observed a shift in attitude as a result of those triumphs.

“It is now [a disappointing season if we don’t win the Heineken Champions Cup],” he asserted. “But it took a lot of hard work to get us into a club or a culture, whatever you want to call it, [where] that is the case. That wasn’t always the case. It was a slog for a good few years.

“Now we have put ourselves in a position that if we don’t win in Europe, it’s not been a great season. Sometimes you can win the league and it’s a good season.

“Obviously, any time you win a trophy it’s a good season, but we want to be a great Leinster team and to do that you have to win the European Cup based on what teams have done before us.”

An injury suffered during the Autumn Nations Series last month is likely to rule Sexton out of Leinster’s Pool A opener at home to Bath Rugby on Saturday, but he is hoping to make his presence felt off the pitch.

“It’s important that I’m there for the team at all stages,” he said. “If I’m injured, I’m there to help and if someone asks questions, of course I’ll be as open as I can.

“But at the same time there are guys there that are playing out-half and there are guys there leading the team that need to do it their own way, and they don’t need me in there overbearing them.

“So, it’s a balance, isn’t it? It’s being there for them, making sure they’re okay and we’re preparing well, and if you see something, maybe having a quiet word to one of the coaches or with the captain or the other out-half who’s playing.”

Sexton hopes to be fit for Leinster’s trip to last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup winners, Montpellier Hérault Rugby, in Round 2.

“That’s the plan, that’s what I’m working for,” he added. “I think the Bath game will probably be a bit too soon for me, but if I can get back for the Montpellier game, that’s the goal at the moment.”

Leinster Rugby captain Johnny Sexton has detailed a change in mentality at the Irish province that has come as a result of their European Cup successes.