Munster boss Graham Rowntree says he will take his time before choosing a successor to Peter O'Mahony, who stepped down as captain last week.
The 33-year-old Ireland flanker spent 10 years leading the team, culminating in a BKT United Rugby Championship title last season. There is speculation that he may take over as Ireland captain after Johnny Sexton's retirement.
The likes of Tadhg Beirne, Jean Kleyn, Conor Murray and Diarmuid Barron are possible contenders to take over from the Cork man (below) and Rowntree said whoever he chooses will have "big boots to fill".
"[I] respect his decision. You know, he's been great for this club, an icon of this club," said the former England prop following Munster's 21-16 defeat to Leinster on Saturday night.
"I respect the fact you want to step down as captain, hand the baton on to someone else and help that person. Who that captain will be, we will name in due course. I'm not being rushed into that.
"We've got a strong leadership group at the club, which he will still be part of, and will drive on. I'm sure he'll be brilliant for the next man, won't he?
"Just his presence. His presence is just incredible and whoever that next man, various options there, Pete will look after him, I know he will.
"We will announce a captain week by week who I think is the best person for that job. I won't be rushed into a decision. They are such big boots to fill.
"I'll be the first head coach in 10 years at the club who has had to name a captain so I'm not rushing that."
Meanwhile, Rowntree confirmed that prop Oli Jager [above] has arrived in the country after his transfer from Crusaders and could "potentially" feature against Connacht on Friday night.
"[He] has landed, he was in the building. He got in Thursday morning. He has done a bit of training and he will be looking to hit training properly on Monday."
Munster have lost two and drawn one of three away games this season but Rowntree insists their away form is not overly concerning.
"Doesn't constitute a crisis. As yet. There is a context of both defeats," he said.
"We are certainly not blown away by teams. Again, it's stuff that it's on us.
"Our errors, things we can control better, being held up over the goal-line for example. We'll keep pushing on.
"We got our game going a lot more [than in the loss to Ulster]. We were on top of teams, our attacking game was certainly there.
"We've got that going a lot more [against Leinster].
"That really pleases me how, you know, it was a real good version of us out there today. "Wasn't good enough but we did some good stuff.
"As I keep saying, we have got a huge game Friday night. Glasgow coming to Cork. We'll drive, dust ourselves down, keep getting better, cliched as it sounds."
Watch highlights of all the weekend's action on Against the Head, 8pm, RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
Watch Connacht v Leinster in the URC on Saturday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
