diff --git a/doc/en/conf.py b/doc/en/conf.py
index cf889eb7a..8059c359f 100644
--- a/doc/en/conf.py
+++ b/doc/en/conf.py
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ nitpick_ignore = [
     ("py:class", "_tracing.TagTracerSub"),
     ("py:class", "warnings.WarningMessage"),
     # Undocumented type aliases
+    ("py:class", "LEGACY_PATH"),
     ("py:class", "_PluggyPlugin"),
     # TypeVars
     ("py:class", "_pytest._code.code.E"),
diff --git a/doc/en/deprecations.rst b/doc/en/deprecations.rst
index b9a59d791..b7ddd8b01 100644
--- a/doc/en/deprecations.rst
+++ b/doc/en/deprecations.rst
@@ -19,6 +19,45 @@ Below is a complete list of all pytest features which are considered deprecated.
 :class:`~pytest.PytestWarning` or subclasses, which can be filtered using :ref:`standard warning filters <warnings>`.
 
 
+.. _node-ctor-fspath-deprecation:
+
+``fspath`` argument for Node constructors replaced with ``pathlib.Path``
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+.. deprecated:: 7.0
+
+In order to support the transition from ``py.path.local`` to :mod:`pathlib`,
+the ``fspath`` argument to :class:`~_pytest.nodes.Node` constructors like
+:func:`pytest.Function.from_parent()` and :func:`pytest.Class.from_parent()`
+is now deprecated.
+
+Plugins which construct nodes should pass the ``path`` argument, of type
+:class:`pathlib.Path`, instead of the ``fspath`` argument.
+
+Plugins which implement custom items and collectors are encouraged to replace
+``fspath`` parameters (``py.path.local``) with ``path`` parameters
+(``pathlib.Path``), and drop any other usage of the ``py`` library if possible.
+
+If possible, plugins with custom items should use :ref:`cooperative
+constructors <uncooperative-constructors-deprecated>` to avoid hardcoding
+arguments they only pass on to the superclass.
+
+.. note::
+    The name of the :class:`~_pytest.nodes.Node` arguments and attributes (the
+    new attribute being ``path``) is **the opposite** of the situation for
+    hooks, :ref:`outlined below <legacy-path-hooks-deprecated>` (the old
+    argument being ``path``).
+
+    This is an unfortunate artifact due to historical reasons, which should be
+    resolved in future versions as we slowly get rid of the :pypi:`py`
+    dependency (see :issue:`9283` for a longer discussion).
+
+Due to the ongoing migration of methods like :meth:`~pytest.Item.reportinfo`
+which still is expected to return a ``py.path.local`` object, nodes still have
+both ``fspath`` (``py.path.local``) and ``path`` (``pathlib.Path``) attributes,
+no matter what argument was used in the constructor. We expect to deprecate the
+``fspath`` attribute in a future release.
+
 .. _legacy-path-hooks-deprecated:
 
 Configuring hook specs/impls using markers
@@ -208,46 +247,6 @@ an appropriate period of deprecation has passed.
 
 Some breaking changes which could not be deprecated are also listed.
 
-.. _node-ctor-fspath-deprecation:
-
-``fspath`` argument for Node constructors replaced with ``pathlib.Path``
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-.. deprecated:: 7.0
-
-In order to support the transition from ``py.path.local`` to :mod:`pathlib`,
-the ``fspath`` argument to :class:`~_pytest.nodes.Node` constructors like
-:func:`pytest.Function.from_parent()` and :func:`pytest.Class.from_parent()`
-is now deprecated.
-
-Plugins which construct nodes should pass the ``path`` argument, of type
-:class:`pathlib.Path`, instead of the ``fspath`` argument.
-
-Plugins which implement custom items and collectors are encouraged to replace
-``fspath`` parameters (``py.path.local``) with ``path`` parameters
-(``pathlib.Path``), and drop any other usage of the ``py`` library if possible.
-
-If possible, plugins with custom items should use :ref:`cooperative
-constructors <uncooperative-constructors-deprecated>` to avoid hardcoding
-arguments they only pass on to the superclass.
-
-.. note::
-    The name of the :class:`~_pytest.nodes.Node` arguments and attributes (the
-    new attribute being ``path``) is **the opposite** of the situation for
-    hooks, :ref:`outlined below <legacy-path-hooks-deprecated>` (the old
-    argument being ``path``).
-
-    This is an unfortunate artifact due to historical reasons, which should be
-    resolved in future versions as we slowly get rid of the :pypi:`py`
-    dependency (see :issue:`9283` for a longer discussion).
-
-Due to the ongoing migration of methods like :meth:`~pytest.Item.reportinfo`
-which still is expected to return a ``py.path.local`` object, nodes still have
-both ``fspath`` (``py.path.local``) and ``path`` (``pathlib.Path``) attributes,
-no matter what argument was used in the constructor. We expect to deprecate the
-``fspath`` attribute in a future release.
-
-
 ``py.path.local`` arguments for hooks replaced with ``pathlib.Path``
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/compat.py b/src/_pytest/compat.py
index fa387f6db..121b1f9f6 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/compat.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/compat.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # mypy: allow-untyped-defs
 """Python version compatibility code."""
+
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import dataclasses
@@ -16,6 +17,22 @@ from typing import Callable
 from typing import Final
 from typing import NoReturn
 
+import py
+
+
+#: constant to prepare valuing pylib path replacements/lazy proxies later on
+#  intended for removal in pytest 8.0 or 9.0
+
+# fmt: off
+# intentional space to create a fake difference for the verification
+LEGACY_PATH = py.path. local
+# fmt: on
+
+
+def legacy_path(path: str | os.PathLike[str]) -> LEGACY_PATH:
+    """Internal wrapper to prepare lazy proxies for legacy_path instances"""
+    return LEGACY_PATH(path)
+
 
 # fmt: off
 # Singleton type for NOTSET, as described in:
diff --git a/src/_pytest/config/compat.py b/src/_pytest/config/compat.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9c61b4dac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/_pytest/config/compat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from ..compat import LEGACY_PATH
+
+
+def _check_path(path: Path, fspath: LEGACY_PATH) -> None:
+    if Path(fspath) != path:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Path({fspath!r}) != {path!r}\n"
+            "if both path and fspath are given they need to be equal"
+        )
diff --git a/src/_pytest/deprecated.py b/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
index 56271c957..508ea1184 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/deprecated.py
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ YIELD_FIXTURE = PytestDeprecationWarning(
 PRIVATE = PytestDeprecationWarning("A private pytest class or function was used.")
 
 
+NODE_CTOR_FSPATH_ARG = UnformattedWarning(
+    PytestRemovedIn9Warning,
+    "The (fspath: py.path.local) argument to {node_type_name} is deprecated. "
+    "Please use the (path: pathlib.Path) argument instead.\n"
+    "See https://docs.pytest.org/en/latest/deprecations.html"
+    "#fspath-argument-for-node-constructors-replaced-with-pathlib-path",
+)
+
 HOOK_LEGACY_MARKING = UnformattedWarning(
     PytestDeprecationWarning,
     "The hook{type} {fullname} uses old-style configuration options (marks or attributes).\n"
diff --git a/src/_pytest/legacypath.py b/src/_pytest/legacypath.py
index b56f3a6fb..b28c89767 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/legacypath.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/legacypath.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # mypy: allow-untyped-defs
 """Add backward compatibility support for the legacy py path type."""
+
 import dataclasses
-import os
 from pathlib import Path
 import shlex
 import subprocess
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ from typing import Union
 
 from iniconfig import SectionWrapper
 
-import py
-
 from _pytest.cacheprovider import Cache
+from _pytest.compat import LEGACY_PATH
+from _pytest.compat import legacy_path
 from _pytest.config import Config
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 from _pytest.config import PytestPluginManager
@@ -39,20 +39,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import pexpect
 
 
-#: constant to prepare valuing pylib path replacements/lazy proxies later on
-#  intended for removal in pytest 8.0 or 9.0
-
-# fmt: off
-# intentional space to create a fake difference for the verification
-LEGACY_PATH = py.path. local
-# fmt: on
-
-
-def legacy_path(path: Union[str, "os.PathLike[str]"]) -> LEGACY_PATH:
-    """Internal wrapper to prepare lazy proxies for legacy_path instances"""
-    return LEGACY_PATH(path)
-
-
 @final
 class Testdir:
     """
diff --git a/src/_pytest/main.py b/src/_pytest/main.py
index 1de86be86..145722c25 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/main.py
@@ -557,6 +557,7 @@ class Session(nodes.Collector):
         super().__init__(
             name="",
             path=config.rootpath,
+            fspath=None,
             parent=None,
             config=config,
             session=self,
diff --git a/src/_pytest/nodes.py b/src/_pytest/nodes.py
index 2381b65ea..cff15001c 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/nodes.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/nodes.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import abc
 from functools import cached_property
 from inspect import signature
 import os
+import pathlib
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 from typing import Callable
@@ -29,8 +30,11 @@ from _pytest._code import getfslineno
 from _pytest._code.code import ExceptionInfo
 from _pytest._code.code import TerminalRepr
 from _pytest._code.code import Traceback
+from _pytest.compat import LEGACY_PATH
 from _pytest.config import Config
 from _pytest.config import ConftestImportFailure
+from _pytest.config.compat import _check_path
+from _pytest.deprecated import NODE_CTOR_FSPATH_ARG
 from _pytest.mark.structures import Mark
 from _pytest.mark.structures import MarkDecorator
 from _pytest.mark.structures import NodeKeywords
@@ -55,6 +59,29 @@ tracebackcutdir = Path(_pytest.__file__).parent
 
 
 _T = TypeVar("_T")
+
+
+def _imply_path(
+    node_type: Type["Node"],
+    path: Optional[Path],
+    fspath: Optional[LEGACY_PATH],
+) -> Path:
+    if fspath is not None:
+        warnings.warn(
+            NODE_CTOR_FSPATH_ARG.format(
+                node_type_name=node_type.__name__,
+            ),
+            stacklevel=6,
+        )
+    if path is not None:
+        if fspath is not None:
+            _check_path(path, fspath)
+        return path
+    else:
+        assert fspath is not None
+        return Path(fspath)
+
+
 _NodeType = TypeVar("_NodeType", bound="Node")
 
 
@@ -110,6 +137,13 @@ class Node(abc.ABC, metaclass=NodeMeta):
     leaf nodes.
     """
 
+    # Implemented in the legacypath plugin.
+    #: A ``LEGACY_PATH`` copy of the :attr:`path` attribute. Intended for usage
+    #: for methods not migrated to ``pathlib.Path`` yet, such as
+    #: :meth:`Item.reportinfo <pytest.Item.reportinfo>`. Will be deprecated in
+    #: a future release, prefer using :attr:`path` instead.
+    fspath: LEGACY_PATH
+
     # Use __slots__ to make attribute access faster.
     # Note that __dict__ is still available.
     __slots__ = (
@@ -129,6 +163,7 @@ class Node(abc.ABC, metaclass=NodeMeta):
         parent: "Optional[Node]" = None,
         config: Optional[Config] = None,
         session: "Optional[Session]" = None,
+        fspath: Optional[LEGACY_PATH] = None,
         path: Optional[Path] = None,
         nodeid: Optional[str] = None,
     ) -> None:
@@ -154,11 +189,10 @@ class Node(abc.ABC, metaclass=NodeMeta):
                 raise TypeError("session or parent must be provided")
             self.session = parent.session
 
-        if path is None:
+        if path is None and fspath is None:
             path = getattr(parent, "path", None)
-        assert path is not None
         #: Filesystem path where this node was collected from (can be None).
-        self.path = path
+        self.path: pathlib.Path = _imply_path(type(self), path, fspath=fspath)
 
         # The explicit annotation is to avoid publicly exposing NodeKeywords.
         #: Keywords/markers collected from all scopes.
@@ -529,6 +563,7 @@ class FSCollector(Collector, abc.ABC):
 
     def __init__(
         self,
+        fspath: Optional[LEGACY_PATH] = None,
         path_or_parent: Optional[Union[Path, Node]] = None,
         path: Optional[Path] = None,
         name: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -544,8 +579,8 @@ class FSCollector(Collector, abc.ABC):
             elif isinstance(path_or_parent, Path):
                 assert path is None
                 path = path_or_parent
-        assert path is not None
 
+        path = _imply_path(type(self), path, fspath=fspath)
         if name is None:
             name = path.name
             if parent is not None and parent.path != path:
@@ -585,11 +620,12 @@ class FSCollector(Collector, abc.ABC):
         cls,
         parent,
         *,
+        fspath: Optional[LEGACY_PATH] = None,
         path: Optional[Path] = None,
         **kw,
     ) -> "Self":
         """The public constructor."""
-        return super().from_parent(parent=parent, path=path, **kw)
+        return super().from_parent(parent=parent, fspath=fspath, path=path, **kw)
 
 
 class File(FSCollector, abc.ABC):
diff --git a/src/_pytest/python.py b/src/_pytest/python.py
index e1730b1a7..1bbe96004 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/python.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/python.py
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ from _pytest.compat import getimfunc
 from _pytest.compat import getlocation
 from _pytest.compat import is_async_function
 from _pytest.compat import is_generator
+from _pytest.compat import LEGACY_PATH
 from _pytest.compat import NOTSET
 from _pytest.compat import safe_getattr
 from _pytest.compat import safe_isclass
@@ -665,6 +666,7 @@ class Package(nodes.Directory):
 
     def __init__(
         self,
+        fspath: Optional[LEGACY_PATH],
         parent: nodes.Collector,
         # NOTE: following args are unused:
         config=None,
@@ -676,6 +678,7 @@ class Package(nodes.Directory):
         # super().__init__(self, fspath, parent=parent)
         session = parent.session
         super().__init__(
+            fspath=fspath,
             path=path,
             parent=parent,
             config=config,
diff --git a/testing/deprecated_test.py b/testing/deprecated_test.py
index a5f513063..6a230a9fd 100644
--- a/testing/deprecated_test.py
+++ b/testing/deprecated_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # mypy: allow-untyped-defs
+import re
+
 from _pytest import deprecated
+from _pytest.compat import legacy_path
 from _pytest.pytester import Pytester
 import pytest
 from pytest import PytestDeprecationWarning
@@ -85,6 +88,25 @@ def test_private_is_deprecated() -> None:
     PrivateInit(10, _ispytest=True)
 
 
+def test_node_ctor_fspath_argument_is_deprecated(pytester: Pytester) -> None:
+    mod = pytester.getmodulecol("")
+
+    class MyFile(pytest.File):
+        def collect(self):
+            raise NotImplementedError()
+
+    with pytest.warns(
+        pytest.PytestDeprecationWarning,
+        match=re.escape(
+            "The (fspath: py.path.local) argument to MyFile is deprecated."
+        ),
+    ):
+        MyFile.from_parent(
+            parent=mod.parent,
+            fspath=legacy_path("bla"),
+        )
+
+
 def test_fixture_disallow_on_marked_functions():
     """Test that applying @pytest.fixture to a marked function warns (#3364)."""
     with pytest.warns(
diff --git a/testing/test_legacypath.py b/testing/test_legacypath.py
index 850f14c58..49e620c11 100644
--- a/testing/test_legacypath.py
+++ b/testing/test_legacypath.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # mypy: allow-untyped-defs
 from pathlib import Path
 
+from _pytest.compat import LEGACY_PATH
 from _pytest.fixtures import TopRequest
-from _pytest.legacypath import LEGACY_PATH
 from _pytest.legacypath import TempdirFactory
 from _pytest.legacypath import Testdir
 import pytest
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def test_item_fspath(pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
     items2, hookrec = pytester.inline_genitems(item.nodeid)
     (item2,) = items2
     assert item2.name == item.name
-    assert item2.fspath == item.fspath  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+    assert item2.fspath == item.fspath
     assert item2.path == item.path
 
 
diff --git a/testing/test_nodes.py b/testing/test_nodes.py
index e019f163c..a3caf471f 100644
--- a/testing/test_nodes.py
+++ b/testing/test_nodes.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from typing import Type
 import warnings
 
 from _pytest import nodes
+from _pytest.compat import legacy_path
 from _pytest.outcomes import OutcomeException
 from _pytest.pytester import Pytester
 from _pytest.warning_types import PytestWarning
@@ -44,9 +45,9 @@ def test_subclassing_both_item_and_collector_deprecated(
         warnings.simplefilter("error")
 
         class SoWrong(nodes.Item, nodes.File):
-            def __init__(self, path, parent):
+            def __init__(self, fspath, parent):
                 """Legacy ctor with legacy call # don't wana see"""
-                super().__init__(parent, path)
+                super().__init__(fspath, parent)
 
             def collect(self):
                 raise NotImplementedError()
@@ -55,7 +56,9 @@ def test_subclassing_both_item_and_collector_deprecated(
                 raise NotImplementedError()
 
     with pytest.warns(PytestWarning) as rec:
-        SoWrong.from_parent(request.session, path=tmp_path / "broken.txt", wrong=10)
+        SoWrong.from_parent(
+            request.session, fspath=legacy_path(tmp_path / "broken.txt")
+        )
     messages = [str(x.message) for x in rec]
     assert any(
         re.search(".*SoWrong.* not using a cooperative constructor.*", x)