At the start Olding, like any teenager eager to make his way in the professional game, merely wanted to keep improving, hoping that if Ulster found themselves a bit short through international demands or injury, that he might get a bit of game-time in the RaboDirect PRO12.
The boy from Carrickfergus has come a long way in a short time, from the Ulster academy to a place as one of six uncapped players in Ireland's squad for next month's Tests against the USA and Canada. And he's made it within a matter of weeks of turning 20.
Olding has forged quite a reputation for making the most of every opportunity. He had never set foot in the RaboDirect PRO12 until Ulster eased him off the bench towards the end of a bonus-point win over Edinburgh at Ravenhill last November.
His next milestone, the first 80-minute appearance, followed against the Ospreys in Belfast a mere three months ago. Since then he has made eight more starts, winning man-of-the-match accolades against the Dragons and Connacht.
A natural fly-half, Olding made an immediate success of filling the vacancy at inside centre caused by injuries to Paddy Wallace, Luke Marshall and another 20-year-old, Chris Farrell.
The occupational hazards they encountered paled into insignificance compared to the tragic loss last September of Nevin Spence.
Ulster's 21-year-old centre lost his life in an accident on the family farm which also claimed the lives of his brother, Graham, and his father, Noel. One week after their deaths, more than 5,000 filed into Ravenhill for a memorial service.
Rory Best, Ulster captain and Ireland hooker, spoke then of a young man who had already marked himself as an international in the making.
"'Nev' has left Ulster Rugby in a much better place than when he found it," Best said at the memorial service. "As a player, a colleague and as a friend, his memory will continue to shape Ulster Rugby for years to come. The memory that 'Nev' left in the squad runs deeper than just rugby.
"It was in the physio room that 'Nev' would give the boys tips on their love life. 'It's quite simple,' he would say, 'All you need is a girl who looks like Cindy Crawford and is able to calve a cow in the middle of the night…''
David Humphreys, former Ulster and Ireland fly-half now director of rugby for his native province, will always remember a player who was 'a dream to work with'.
"On days when nobody else wanted to come in and train, he was there leading from the front," Humphreys said. "All he wanted to do for the remainder of his career was to stay here, win trophies and be successful for Ulster. He brought his commitment, his passion and his enthusiasm every time he played."
The sense that Spence has been with Ulster every step of the way since that terrible day last September has been felt by those who have had to go on without him.
For them, he has been a light shining the way ahead, a role recognised earlier this month by those who played alongside him.
At their annual awards ceremony, Ulster Rugby named Nevin Spence their Personality of the Year. The citation read: "Nevin's presence has been with the Ulster Rugby team throughout this season. Although he is no longer here in person, his spirit continues to inspire and motivate each and every member of the squad."
Saturday's Grand Final - Ulster's first, Leinster's fourth - will be no different. Ironically, it will be the northern province's 'home' match, the RDS having been nominated by Ulster because Ravenhill failed to meet the minimum-capacity criteria although it will once the ground's redevelopment is completed.
With another European trophy safely under lock and key, Leinster will hope that the fourth Grand Final turns out to be a case of third time lucky.
Twice they have finished top of the 22-match RaboDirect PRO12 programme, twice they have gone into finals on home territory at the RDS and twice they have lost.
The Ospreys were responsible on each occasion, last year when Dan Biggar's late conversion of Shane Williams' try won it for the Welsh region and two years earlier when one of their tries came from Tommy Bowe, now back with Ulster.
On both occasions, Ospreys had finished the regular season in second place. Leinster, three points behind Ulster after this season's 22 matches, can only hope that proves to be an omen.
The alternative would be to lose a fourth successive Grand Final and a second Ulster win at the RDS in two months on top of the 22-18 victory there over Easter secured by four penalties from Ruan Pienaar plus tries from Robbie Diack and Iain Henderson, Stuart Olding's childhood pal from before the turn of the Century when Ulster ruled the European roost…
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