Ulster guaranteed themselves second place in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14 and a play-off place after overcoming Edinburgh 29-7 at Murrayfield.
Tries from Jordi Murphy, Robert Baloucoune, Rob Lyttle and Billy Burns secured a bonus-point victory which, combined with Benetton losing to Munster, means the Irish side are assured of a top-two finish.
Edinburgh's points came from a converted second-half try from John Barclay. However, the result seriously dents their hopes of progressing and they now depend on more than just the outcome of their final-day derby encounter at Glasgow.
Both sides had spells of possession in the first half but Ulster's more deadly approach meant they led 15-0 by its end.
John Cooney's fourth-minute penalty put the visitors ahead before flanker Murphy scored the game's first try in the 12th minute after Jacob Stockdale had put Edinburgh under pressure with a long kick.
Ulster had to wait for confirmation from the TMO, but referee Nigel Owens eventually awarded the try and Cooney added the extras.
Edinburgh's first piece of phase play followed but when a kickable penalty was awarded, home stand off Jaco Van Der Walt could only hit an upright.
The home side would not come any closer to getting off the mark in the first half.
Both sides pushed forward in search of tries but the score remained the same until the final minute off the half when Ulster scored a superb second try.
Pressure was built on the left before a long pass from number 10 Burns released right winger Baloucoune, who ran in from 20 metres for an unconverted score.
From the restart Edinburgh again huffed and puffed but could find no way through and Ulster, with their first attack of the half, increased their lead further still.
Stockdale came into the line to release left winger Lyttle, who battled through home jerseys for a try that saw Cooney add the extras from out wide.
Edinburgh replied almost immediately with a try from Barclay, who had replaced Magnus Bradbury and produced the creativity previously missing from his side's play as he ran in a clever try from 20 metres which Hickey converted.
However, Ulster closed the game out with a converted bonus-point try from Burns as they kept their hopes of Guinness PRO14 glory firmly alive.
