Ulster's Champions Cup win over Racing 92 has provided a "timely reminder" of their strengths, says Connacht boss Pete Wilkins.
Dan McFarland’s side recorded an impressive bonus-point victory over the Parisians in Belfast on Saturday night and Connacht, off the back of four straight defeats, are the next guests at the Kingspan.
Just a point separates the teams, with Ulster in seventh place in the table and Connacht eighth.
The hosts scored three of their four tries against Racing from tap penalty moves as they adapted to a malfunctioning lineout early in the first half.
The raw strength of the Ulster pack has been a weapon in recent seasons and Wilkins admitted that it was no harm to see Friday’s opposition operating close to full bore as he prepares his side, who lost heavily to Saracens in their second Champions Cup match.
It was Connacht who ended Ulster’s season last May at the quarter-final stage with a 15-10 away victory and the Westerners beat McFarland's side 22-20 in the second match of the current campaign in November.
"I don’t think [their performance] affects it in terms of confidence levels, Ulster at the Kingspan is always a big challenge," Wilkins told RTÉ Sport when asked if the 31-15 victory changes anything about Connacht’s game plan.
"Any interpro between Connacht and Ulster is generally a really close affair.
"If you look at both teams statistically in the URC, we are evenly matched across all the big areas. You just know it’s going to be full of fire and highly competitive.
"I don’t think it changes anything in terms of that previous result.
"It’s a good lesson for us, that Racing performance, I think they played some fantastic rugby at times that they’ll be delighted with.
"Against Ulster, particularly at home, if you concede turnovers and penalties, when you are getting north of ten in each of those, then you are giving them access to the 22 and their driving maul and their pick and go comes into play.
"It’s not that we needed the reminder but it’s a really good example of the fact that if you gift them those access points...they are very effective when they get close to the line.
"It’s a good warning for us. I don’t think we need it but it’s timely."
Nick Timoney (2) and Stuart McCloskey scored tries off the tap and go penalties and Wilkins, whose team will be boosted by the return of Mack Hansen from injury, added: "It’s in vogue, isn’t it all the little tap plays and little manoeuvres.
"These things come full circle but we’ll see."
