Séamus Power was relishing getting to know both teams ahead of the Hero Cup as he set his sights on potentially playing alongside some of them again in September.
The Irishman has lived in the United States for many years since playing college golf at East Tennessee State University and won his second PGA TOUR title at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in October.
He joined the DP World Tour as an affiliate member last season and secured two top ten finishes as he looks to establish himself more on his home continent, and this week is surrounded by 19 of the Tour's best at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Power and his nine Great Britain & Ireland team-mates will go up against ten players representing Continental Europe in five sets of four-balls, ten sets of foursomes and ten singles matches, with every player competing in every session across three days.
The relaxed build up has meant the 35-year-old has got to spend time with both his own team and those from the continent, and he is happy to build relationships as he aims for a Ryder Cup debut later this year.
"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "We don't play much (match play) obviously anymore. A lot of the stuff we played growing up was match play and it's a different game. Everything just feels a little different.
"It is my first time being part of a team for a long time so really looking forward to the experience. Even the last day has been a lot of fun, getting to meet fellas I wouldn't have known particularly well. It's been great so far and looking forward to the week.
"The team-room set-up has been fantastic. Last night was a little different. Both teams were together. Today we have been kind of separate all day. It's been good, though. I know some of the guys but getting to know some of the other guys.
"It really is good. We don't really get many opportunities like this in golf. You're always playing for yourself. So something like this, it's going to be totally different."
Power's countryman and team-mate this week Shane Lowry made his Ryder Cup debut in the last contest at Whistling Straits and is delighted to see a host of Europe's rising stars try to make an impression this week.
"The two best players in the world are European players at the minute I feel with Jon (Rahm) and Rory (McIlroy). It's up to us, the rest of the lads to get our game to a level where we are good enough to win The Ryder Cup at the end of the year.
"It's great for the younger lads that are here this week to be around the likes of Francesco (Molinari) and Tommy (Fleetwood) and myself and Tyrrell (Hatton) and lads like that.
"I feel like we have the bonds of a very strong team come September and I hope that we all step up when it comes to it.
"One of my main goals this year is to win The Ryder Cup and I hope to be a part of that team and hoping to there and hopefully win it back."
