Munster head coach Johann van Graan hopes his team can cap their development this season with a first league crown in a decade when they meet Leinster in the Guinness Pro14 final on Saturday.
They were beaten domestic semi-finalists and failed to make the knockout stages in Europe a year ago, but this term finished 19 points clear of Connacht in Conference B to book their final spot at the RDS and also have a Champions Cup last-16 tie against Toulouse to come next week.
"We said we need to get better in all areas, that's what you look for in a season, and I believe we have. Now it’s about producing on a day that matters most, that’s in a final," said the South African, ahead of Munster's first appearance in the decider since 2017.
"We’re coming up against possibly the best team in Europe, certainly in the Pro14 over the last few seasons, and they’re playing at their home ground. We’re under no illusions we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.
"It’s a great challenge in front of us, we believe we’ve improved through the season and that will be put to the test on Saturday afternoon.
"Finals are strange things. It's about the team that handles the pressure the most. So we’ll go in with our basic plan and execute that as well as we can and then adapt on the day, whether that’s to the opponents, the weather, the referee or the scoreboard.
"We're going to embrace and enjoy the week, it's the first time in a few years that Munster have been in a final so really looking forward to it."
While Leinster will be without the injured Will Connors, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan, Van Graan is expected to be able to call on all his internationals, who ended the Six Nations on a high with victory over England in CJ Stander's last international appearance.
"Firstly, great to have them back, they had a fantastic win over England, so brilliant to have your international players back," he said.
"We look after each guy individually, some guys have played more than others and we're slowly building towards that Saturday afternoon final (5pm).
"CJ has been fantastic for Irish and Munster rugby, he's played over 150 games for the club. But this is not the end for CJ at Munster, we've got a European tie after this week against Toulouse and a whole host of games (the Rainbow Cup) up until the end of June, so it's another step in our journey of the season.
"But from CJ's individual point of view, great for him to get a win in his last Test for Ireland, it was really emotional and a great send-off for him but he came in on Monday and said it's a massive game for the club, and it's never been about him it's always been about the club.
"His character speaks for itself in terms of that and look, it would be great to win this game for a whole lot of reasons, and one of them will be CJ."
