There is no better example of Richard Cockerill's trust in his squad than a story that came out at this week's Aviva Premiership semi-final press conference.
The Leicester Tigers director of rugby was talking about the strong core of experienced players at the heart of the set-up when he revealed: "When we played Saints before in the league, we had a meeting one day to talk about various bits and bobs before we went out to train.
"Ed Slater and Tom Youngs came in, we had a brief chat and they told me, 'We get that. We don't need you in the meeting. We'll take it'.
"So I went outside and got a cup of tea.
"They wanted to deal with what we had to talk about themselves – and they are the guys who will have to deal with it out on the pitch come game time.
"I put my faith in them doing the right thing because they are the kind of guys I can trust.
"If they don't want me there this week, I won't be there.
"The players play for each other and the team is about the team.
"I have never played for a coach in my life and I don't expect the players to play for me.
"I will look after them and do my homework and help them along the way, but they are the guys who have to do it out on the field and they do it well.
"As players, you play for the bloke next to you in the changing room, the guy who is going to make a tackle for you or look after you in the scrum. These boys feel the same.
"They are strong-minded people who knows what it takes to win big games."
Cockerill has every right to trust a core of the squad that is not only shaping up into a fearsome unit but one that has now been playing together for several years. These are the players who supporters can take for granted when the club renews their contract.
But over the years, they are the group that have become expensive signings as they tot-up appearances for their country.
Tigers "don't sign big names any more" apparently. Wrong.
The fruit of the Leicester's recruitment policy is ripening very nicely and they are the men who Cockerill will be sending out tomorrow to help run the show in Tigers' biggest game of the season.
Tom Youngs, 27, Ben Youngs, 24, Ed Slater, 25, Dan Cole, 27, Tom Croft, 28, Manu Tuilagi, 22, are just some of the core of that squad.
With more than 150 England caps between them and a host of huge games for club and country under their belt, these are the players who Tigers hope will steer the side towards the end of the decade.
It was interesting to note Wales boss Warren Gatland's comments this week that he may not consider picking Welsh players at English clubs in future.
This would rule Tigers fly-half Owen Williams out of any international appearances in future years and put real pressure on him to return home if he wanted to realise ambitions to play for his country.
Fortunately, the Welsh Rugby Writers' Association are not so narrow-minded and chose the 22-year-old as their most promising player this season.
It is the first time a player outside of Wales has won the award.
![Inside Rugby: Martin Crowson on why Cockers has complete faith in his Tigers squad Inside Rugby: Martin Crowson on why Cockers has complete faith in his Tigers squad]()