diff --git a/lisa/datautils.py b/lisa/datautils.py
index 9dd6d163a867b60c131c21b7d753c0ae9e5f1c8f..1b25aaab327984272d54df73c506169ac92600ae 100644
--- a/lisa/datautils.py
+++ b/lisa/datautils.py
@@ -245,6 +245,10 @@ class _NoIndex:
 
 
 NO_INDEX = _NoIndex()
+"""
+Indicates there is no index to be used when passed as the index name to various
+functions.
+"""
 
 
 def _polars_index_col(df, index=None):
@@ -307,7 +311,9 @@ def _df_to_pandas(df, index):
     if isinstance(df, pd.DataFrame):
         return df
     else:
-        assert isinstance(df, pl.LazyFrame)
+        assert isinstance(df, (pl.LazyFrame, pl.DataFrame))
+        df = df.lazy()
+
         index = _polars_index_col(df, index)
         schema = df.collect_schema()
         has_time_index = index == 'Time' and schema[index].is_temporal()
@@ -387,6 +393,28 @@ def _df_to(df, fmt, index=None):
         raise ValueError(f'Unknown format {fmt}')
 
 
+def polars_to_pandas(data, index=None):
+    """
+    Convert the given :mod:`polars` data object to :mod:`pandas`, for cases
+    where an external consumer requires a pandas object.
+
+    :param data: Polars object to convert.
+    :type data: polars.LazyFrame or polars.DataFrame
+
+    :param index: Name of the column to use as index for the pandas object. If
+        ``None``, the first column is selected. If
+        :data:`~lisa.datautils.NO_INDEX`, then the pandas object will not have
+        any particular inde (default :class:`pandas.RangeIndex`).
+    :type index: str or None
+
+    .. note:: This helper will eventually be retired when the data science
+        ecosystem becomes more compatible with polars, e.g. by exploiting the
+        dataframe protocol.
+    """
+    assert isinstance(data, (pl.LazyFrame, pl.DataFrame))
+    return _df_to(data, fmt='pandas', index=index)
+
+
 def _pandas_cleanup_df(df):
     assert isinstance(df, pd.DataFrame)