If Ulster beat Saracens in the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Ravenhill, the Province will have home country advantage in the semi-final.
The draw was made on Sunday evening at Thomond Park. Ulster/Saracens will play Clermont/Leicester Tigers. The other half of the draw sees Toulon/Leinster v Munster/Toulouse.
However, Ulster’s Director of Rugby, David Humphreys, says no-one at the Province is looking past the game against Saracens – a repeat of last season’s quarter-final:
“We are obviously pleased to be on the home side of the draw for the semi-finals,” says Humphreys, “but that will only be relevant if we beat Saracens at Ravenhill in the quarter-final. Winning that game is what we are fully focused on now.
“Over the past few seasons we have made steady improvement,” he added. “First we qualified, then last year we won our group but were away, now we have finished the Pool stage as top seeds and have a home quarter final.
“We are delighted to have the game at home and to be able open the newly redeveloped Ravenhill for the match. It will also be great to welcome Mark McCall, with his strong connection with the Province as both a player and coach, back to Belfast for the game.
“Last season we were hugely disappointed with the way we performed at Twickenham against Saracens. Now we have the opportunity to lay those ghosts to rest.”