Three interprovincial matches then away to Glasgow. PRO12 run-ins don’t come more difficult than that. With every Ulster game now vital in the race for the play-offs, the province have a welcome mix of returning Ireland internationals and players coming back from injury. Aligned to that, the experience of players such as Ruan Pienaar and the province are perhaps better placed than at any other time this season.
Pienaar, who has now played 92 games for Ulster, believes he and his fellow team-mates are in for a challenging, but potentially rewarding few weeks:
“I think it’s exciting but obviously really tough to be playing these games,” says the Springbok international. “We couldn’t have asked for a more challenging end to the season. We’re playing all the other top teams but hopefully they will lead to a play off position for us. It’s going to be really tough but it’s good to have all the guys back fit and all the Irish guys back in. You can feel the energy that they have brought back with them and they have tasted success – hopefully their experience will rub off on us and we can all taste success at the end of the season.”
First up for Ulster in the run in is a trip to the Sportsground in Galway to face Connacht. Having just competed in a Challenge Cup quarter final and boasting a formidable home record this season, Pienaar believes it will be a massive test for Ulster on Saturday:
He says: “Its always a really tough place to go to. This year their home form has been fantastic. We are going to have to be at our best if we are going to get a result. We have been training well and preparing well and hopefully we can show that on Saturday.
“The potential of playing a final at Kingspan Stadium is a massive incentive,” continues Pienaar. “It would be great for our fans to have a home final with Ulster involved. Obviously we missed out on a home final a few seasons ago when we were asked to go down to Leinster. That was a disappointing one. But everyone is very excited and raring to go. It’s the business end of the season and these are the games you want to be involved in.”