The Lamont brothers have been spared the ordeal of going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when Toulon and the Scarlets clash at Stade Felix-Mayol in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Saturday night - and Scarlets star Sean Lamont is happy just to be concentrating on the huge job in hand with no family distractions.
The medial ligament strain suffered by Rory in the RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium in February has meant there will be no family first as the chase for Amlin Challenge Cup glory goes into the sudden death stages.
"Rory tells me he is getting along well but he has not done any running yet so it is highly unlikely he will be playing for some time to come," said elder brother Sean.
"And it is not exaggeration to say this is an absolutely massive game for us, it is a game we are really targeting, along with the Amlin Challenge Cup in general.
"The match is a fantastic chance to try and go on and win some silverware, a great way to showcase our game and, of course, there is automatic Heineken Cup qualification waiting for the eventual Amlin Challenge Cup winner.
"It provides one of the ways of getting into next season's Heineken Cup and that has to be a huge incentive for all eight teams in the quarters.
"The move to have three of the Heineken Cup Pool runners-up playing in the Amlin quarters provides a great way to stay in Europe and, with all the quarter-finalists really good teams, it certainly makes for a really high quality tournament."
And although it will be the teams' first meeting on the European stage, Lamont knows exactly what to expect in the Stade Felix-Mayol cauldron. He played for the Saints in both Pool matches against Toulon last season, scoring a try in the away leg.
"I know from last season just how passionate the place will be and while it is sure to be a full house hopefully we can silence their crowd and everyone knows that when a French team is not playing well their crowd certainly let them know just what they think," said the 45 times capped Sean, who was an ever present during the 2010 championship, appearing on both wings and also in the centre.
"It is a difficult place to go so we must try and get on top early on and keep the pressure on."
A feature of the contest will be the head-to-head of British and Irish Lions outside halves Jonny Wilkinson and Stephen Jones, Lamont adding: "Those two have gone head-to-head many times and it will be nothing new for them but of course the No 10s have a big influence on any match.
"Jonny can really boss the line and Joe van Niekerck is a great player but Toulon are not just a lot of big names, they are gelling as a team and after a bit of an up and down start to season they are back on track and going really well. They have a lot of talent right across the team.
"As far as me joining the Scarlets it has gone really well and been a great move for me, helping my rugby as we are always trying to play an expansive and running game with the ball in hand.
"And that family first will not be happening. Rory and I have never played against each and the closest we have come to that happening was when I was with Northampton and he was with Sale and the clubs were meeting in a Premiership match. He had started for Sale but was replaced during the game - and at the same time I came off the Northampton bench in the same interchange.
"It would certainly be an odd and mixed emotion to play against each other, what with one losing and the other winning and I guess I am quietly pleased it will not be happening on Saturday."
