For the second year in a row Ulster arrive into the final round of pool games in the Investec Champions Cup needing a win to keep their campaign alive.
It's one day short of a year since Dan McFarland's side clawed their way through to the last-16 with a 22-11 win against the Sale Sharks at Kingspan Stadium, with that victory being their sole win in the pool stage.
This year the challenge is the same on paper, but more difficult in reality, with Ulster requiring a win away from home against Harlequins (1pm). The Premiership side are already through to the last-16, but with the prize of a home draw in front of them, Quins have picked a strong squad. There's no signs of them putting their feet up.
There's a scenario in which Ulster could qualify with a losing bonus-point, but for that to happen they would need Cardiff to claim a win (without a BP) away to Racing 92, an outcome that would generously be described as unlikely.
"It's knockout for us," Stuart McCloskey says, with the Ulster centre hoping that they can catch Harlequins on the hop after they guaranteed their knockout place by beating Cardiff a week ago.
It's been an up and down season for the province, whose season can be summed by the first two weeks of 2024, defeating Leinster 22-21 at the RDS on New Year's Day before being blown apart by Toulouse in Belfast a week ago.
Midway through the season, it's becoming increasingly difficult to predict which Ulster will turn up on a given week. Wins against Munster, Connacht, Leinster and Racing 92 have been offset by defeats to Glasgow and Edinburgh in the URC, as well as heavy defeats to both Bath and Toulouse in this tournament.
"Hopefully we can bounce back this week. I think we'll turn it round against Quins," said McCloskey.
"There's a lot of enthusiasm in the group and we performed well and got good results in our three previous games before facing Toulouse so we are not too far away."
If Ulster fail to repeat their heroics of last January, they will likely drop into the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.
But the Ireland international says it would be scant consolation.
"I don't really want to be playing Challenge Cup and I don't think any of the other guys want to be playing it either," he added.
"That's a pretty big carrot, we'd much rather be playing Champions Cup last-16 against a big team, a big fixture."
And with Ulster having won on their two recent Champions Cup trips to the Stoop in 2017 and 2019, as well as enjoying a Challenge Cup win there in 2021, McCloskey hopes they can draw on that experience today.
"The away form we have had against English teams in Europe in previous years, especially against Quins, is something we can take as a positive.
"We must improve some of the turnover defensive stuff from the Toulouse game, also some of the maul defence. Attack wise guys being in position earlier, guys being in place to take opportunities we create."
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Watch Munster v Northampton in the Champions Cup on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 4.45pm this Saturday, follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1.
Listen to love commentary of Harlequins v Ulster from 12.55pm on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, with commentary continuing on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport from 2pm
