Rate of separation change a′ computed at the equilibrium eccentricity, as a function of the mass ratio. We compare the models based on S23b (red), Z21 (green) and DD21 (blue). The blue cross indicates the value obtained by DD21 when considering small oscillations that a realistic system can have around the equilibrium eccentricity. Time moves from left to right as the binary accretes mass and the mass ratio approaches unity.