[1.3.28] Step "assertions" field is not null safe

Is it possible to make Step.assertions field null safe ?
We're using tests on spring boot and with version changed from 2.5.4 to 2.6.1 we're receiving NPE on Step constructor.
JsonNode assertions was previously always not null - now it's null.

this.assertions = **assertions**.isNull() ? verify : assertions;

Start at the Step constructor, where the assertions JsonNode is dereferenced, and reproduce the failure with Spring Boot 2.6.1. Done means constructing a Step with null assertions no longer raises an NPE while the existing non-null behavior remains unchanged.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.