Johnny Sexton doesn't think he'll get over his Lions snub this summer - but he insists he has accepted it and is ready to "attack" the new season.
Sexton, 36, was omitted from Warren Gatland's plans for the series against South Africa as the former Wales coach selected out-halves Dan Biggar and Finn Russell, with Owen Farrell also available in the number 10/12 role.
And even when Russell was managing an achilles, it was to Harlequins' young out-half Marcus Smith that Gatland turned to instead of the two-time Lions tourist Sexton, who was temporarily stood down from playing after Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final win over Exeter after a number of head injuries.
Reflecting on his omission, Sexton said: "It's a long time ago now since I wasn't picked so the emotions have obviously changed a little bit.
"Obviously when you don't get picked it's a massive disappointment but, look, they went a certain way and I wasn't a part of their plans and it was tough but that's life and I've just got to try and bounce back now.
"I've had lots of setbacks in my career and now it's up to me to bounce back this season.
"Not that I'm over it, I don't think I'll ever get over it.
"But I've come to terms with it, I accepted it a long time ago that it wasn't going to be and I've had a good pre-season so far with Leinster and looking forward to getting the season started next week."
On a more positive note, what it does mean is that the Ireland star is ready to hit the ground running for Leinster and to get ready for the November internationals, including another crack at the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium.
It's another marathon season in prospect, with Ireland also touring New Zealand next July.
"Yeah of course, but never once when I didn't get picked did I say, 'Well, at least I'll be all good for next season'," admitted Sexton.
"That's not how I think. It was a huge disappointment, the Lions was in the forefront of my thoughts for the last couple of years.
"But like I said, that's life and now it's a case of trying to attack this season.
"I'll be hopefully ready to go and have a good start to the season and be fit to put myself forward for Irish selection.
"It's a huge year ahead with some big November fixtures, Six Nations, and then tour to New Zealand. All the Leinster stuff as well, so it's a big season ahead, but they're all big seasons.
"You get energised by the start of a new season and this one is no different."
Sexton also revealed that the decision for himself and fellow veterans Cian Healy and Keith Earls to sit out Ireland's Summer Series was made in the wake of the Six Nations.
He said he understood Ireland boss Andy Farrell's reasoning in looking to blood younger players.
"Obviously the Irish coaches have to start developing guys," he remarked.
"They left out a few older guys in the Summer Series and that was flagged to us very early on, even from after Six Nations, there was the talk of, 'well if you don't get picked for the Lions, we probably won't include you'.
"So that was clear, that was all part of my decision making at the end of the season when there was a couple of Leinster league games and I knew that I wasn't going to be playing for Ireland and a couple of the guys in Leinster who were pushing for Ireland selection, the game time was more important for them.
"I had flagged that I was going to be fit for the Lions, I was technically fit at the end of the season, I had flagged that I was fit for standby and ready if needed.
"So that was clear and so all the thinking was, 'Give Harry and Ross (Byrne) as much opportunity to push for Irish selection'.
"And I just trained hard and helped the team where I could and now I'm back and ready to go and looking forward to this season."
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