Gordon D'Arcy is hoping for an injury-free season after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage in his hip over the summer.
D'Arcy was a member of the Ireland squad for the summer Tour of Australia and New Zealand but he only played in the game against the All Blacks after suffering another groin injury.
The centre struggled with a number of injuries over the 2009-10 season and a visit to a specialist whilst in Australia resulted in the 30-year-old undergoing surgery.
"The specialist didn't agree my injuries were originating from where they were showing up, my groin, my pelvis or previously, my sore back," D'Arcy told the Irish Daily Star.
"He thought everything might be originating at my hip so I had an exploratory operation and it showed up to four cartilages were torn. So I had an operation to correct that and I've been flying since then, everything seemed to have cleared up.
"The knock-on benefits from the hip operation have been super. I have every confidence in my back now. In fact, my back - on which I have done so much work - is now one of the strongest parts of my body.
"Hopefully now that the hip has been sorted out, my groin and my pelvis won't flare up
"I know there is a long season coming up but it is one I'm really looking forward to."
The new season sees a number of changes at Leinster with Joe Schmidt taking over at the helm from Michael Cheika and D'Arcy is looking forward to training under the New Zealander.
"As always when a new coach comes there's a little shake-up. I think it puts everyone on their toes," he explained.
"I'm told by Isa Nacewa who worked with Joe back in New Zealand that he was one of the best coaches he had ever worked with."