Les Kiss has claimed that the current Guinness PRO12 campaign is the toughest ever, and he is adamant there will be a few more twists and turns before the end of the regular season on 7th May.
Ulster face Ospreys on that final weekend of scheduled games, but not before Leinster come to visit a sold-out Kingspan Stadium this Saturday.
Two consecutive wins would seal a much-coveted play-off place for Kiss’ side, but the Australian is aware that it will more than likely go down to the wire:
"The picture changes all the time depending on what results are thrown up. If we win this weekend and a certain result goes our way then we can’t be knocked out of the top four. But we don’t want to be relying on other teams doing us a favour.
"With Connacht and Glasgow still having to play each other again in round 22, there is plenty at stake for them too.
"For Leinster, even if they get a losing bonus against us, they’ll feel they’re in a good place, but a win for them puts them absolutely in the box seat so we know they’ll be desperate. Our focus is to get the four points and if we do that, it’s mission accomplished, at least until we face the challenge of Ospreys."
While Kiss has been brought in on a four-year contract to develop a long-term plan for the professional game, inclusive of the Hughes Insurance Academy and the age grade structures, he can’t hide his desire to win some silverware in his first season at the helm.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that expectation to get it done or believe that it can be done," he said. "To say anything less I'd be under-selling the ambition of Ulster, the ambition of the players.
"Especially the players that have only got two or three years left, I didn't want to come here and say, 'Give me two or three years to do something', I wanted to come in and say, 'Let's try and get in front of things as quick as we can'.
"It really is a tight, tough competition. A win this weekend would be special and would keep us in the hunt."
Ulster face Ospreys on that final weekend of scheduled games, but not before Leinster come to visit a sold-out Kingspan Stadium this Saturday.
Two consecutive wins would seal a much-coveted play-off place for Kiss’ side, but the Australian is aware that it will more than likely go down to the wire:
"The picture changes all the time depending on what results are thrown up. If we win this weekend and a certain result goes our way then we can’t be knocked out of the top four. But we don’t want to be relying on other teams doing us a favour.
"With Connacht and Glasgow still having to play each other again in round 22, there is plenty at stake for them too.
"For Leinster, even if they get a losing bonus against us, they’ll feel they’re in a good place, but a win for them puts them absolutely in the box seat so we know they’ll be desperate. Our focus is to get the four points and if we do that, it’s mission accomplished, at least until we face the challenge of Ospreys."
While Kiss has been brought in on a four-year contract to develop a long-term plan for the professional game, inclusive of the Hughes Insurance Academy and the age grade structures, he can’t hide his desire to win some silverware in his first season at the helm.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that expectation to get it done or believe that it can be done," he said. "To say anything less I'd be under-selling the ambition of Ulster, the ambition of the players.
"Especially the players that have only got two or three years left, I didn't want to come here and say, 'Give me two or three years to do something', I wanted to come in and say, 'Let's try and get in front of things as quick as we can'.
"It really is a tight, tough competition. A win this weekend would be special and would keep us in the hunt."