Jared Payne reckons Ulster are in a better place mentally now to deal with the threat of Connacht, who have won their three of their last four encounters.
Just prior to the November internationals, the sides met in the Aviva with the Belfast-based team having won their four opening United Rugby Championship games, all with bonus points.
However, Dan McFarland couldn't hide his disappointment following the humbling 36-11 reverse saying "it's not the standard I accept from them."
Since then, however, they have claimed impressive wins over Leinster, Clermont and Northampton.
"We are definitely making strides in some areas," defence coach Payne told RTÉ Sport as he looked ahead to their St Stephen's Day derby at the Kingspan (5.15pm).
"We’ve been a lot better in some of our attack shape, working pretty hard and giving ourselves options.
"You saw some of that on Friday [in the 27-22 win over Northampton].
"We scored a great try early on in the game. Some of our defensive work, we keep our spacing very well so we’re making small steps in the right direction.
"It’s all easy during the week to say you’re going to do X,Y and Z but when you get punched in the face in a game of rugby, you get hit hard.
"Things can change. We have addressed how we navigate the momentum and emotion of a game, good or bad.
"When we’re up against it, what we do as a group, when it’s going well for us to try to have processes in place to help the guys.
"I think they’ve used them pretty well in the game in Clermont. In the third quarter they came back pretty hard and there was pressure on the lads.
"They have to navigate that space and come out the right side. We’ve been working on different elements of getting through games.
"Twice we’ve managed that and it’s going in the right direction but there’ll be ups and downs. I’m sure we’ll get tested by Connacht."
Andy Friend's men, meanwhile, are having mixed results and following up a European win over Stade Francais with a loss to Premiership leaders Leicester at Welford Road on Sunday.
But they are playing the most exciting brand of rugby across the championship.
"They are class as a team at the moment, very dangerous, very aggressive in defence," said the former Ireland centre.
"They come forward and score tries from defence. They put teams under pressure. They attack with variety, they control the field position very well.
"They have grown massively. If I was to sum them up, I’d say dangerous both sides of the ball.
"Dangerous, the way they defend, dangerous with the variety they can play, whether it be starter plays, they’ve got nice little phase options as well.
"They’ve got a good fella in [out-half Jack] Carty who can put you back in your own half so they are a dangerous team at the moment."
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