After securing URC play-off rugby following the Round 17 victory over Leinster at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster's attentions now focus on finishing off the regular season on a high note against table-toppers and URC Champions, Munster.
The away side head into the clash in fine form, after four victories on the bounce against Cardiff, Benetton, Scarlets and Leinster.
Graham Rowntree's men are also in excellent form, with an eight match winning streak lifting the province to the summit of the URC.
The Red Army will hope to cap things off with a strong performance before they begin their play-offs to try and retain their URC crown.
Form Guide (Last three URC fixtures)
Munster:
Edinburgh 26-29 Munster
Munster 47-12 Connacht
Emirates Lions 13-33 Munster
Ulster:
Ulster 23-21 Leinster
Scarlets 20-31 Ulster
Ulster 38-34 Benetton
How it stands
Irish Shield showdown
Saturday also presents a chance for Ulster to take home the Irish Shield, which measures the provinces' head-to-head record through the season. The province currently lead the head-to-heads, with Leinster two points behind.
Last time out
Ulster edged out a famous one point, 14-15 victory at Thomond Park in October 2022. It was the province's first win in Limerick since 2014. Three first half unconverted tries from Jordi Murphy, Tom Stewart and James Hume gave Ulster a 15-3 lead going into half-time.
In the second half, the home side fought back and made it a nervy end as a Shane Daly try and three penalties from Jack Crowley left the scoreline very tight. Ulster were able to fend off the comeback despite being a man down after a yellow was shown to Cormac Izuchukwu. South-African powerhouse, Duane Vermeulen, made the match-winning turnover late on to seal the win.
You can read the full match report from the victory here.
Players to watch
Jack Crowley- Munster and Ireland's starting ten gets better and better with each season. After starring in Munster's push for the URC title last a season, Crowley snatched the chance to take up Jonny Sexton's vacant ten jersey for Ireland.
During the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, Crowley, played every minute of the campaign, looking very accomplished on the international stage and helped lead Ireland to another Six Nations Championship.
This season, Crowley has showed the variety in his game, with his running, passing and kicking all looking very strong.
Peter O'Mahony - Christmas came early for Munster faithful when Ireland captain and back-row hero, O'Mahony, signed a new deal to keep him with the province.
A natural leader and winner, O'Mahoney's aggression in the back-row is vital for Munster and Ireland at the breakdown and scrum-time. The wily player is an important member of the side who have won a whopping 116 turnovers this season.
The keen gardener (check his Instagram) is also a powerhouse at line-outs and very skilled at ball-handling. Most likely to be seen questioning a referee decision.
Gavin Coombes - One of the hardest workers in the URC. To say Coombes gets through a lot of work in a game is an understatement. The big forward can play across the back-row and leads the URC chart for carries, with a monstrous 195 carries this season.
He also enjoys a few tackles, with 181 tackles made through the campaign. Numbers that Ulster's own tackling machine, Sean Reffell, would smile at.
Coombes will be a threat in all areas of the pitch, carrying a big try threat with his size and power.
Did you know?
- Ulster have already qualified for a play-off spot for the third successive season and have won their last four BKT United Rugby Championship matches since their 7-13 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town in Round 13.
- Ulster’s only defeat to a fellow Irish province this season was in Connacht in Round 3
- Ulster have won three of their last four encounters with Munster including a 15-14 win on their most recent visit to Thomond Park in October 2022.