Munster are heading into the "make or break" stage of their season, according to defence coach JP Ferreira.
The South African, who will depart for Bath along with head coach Johann van Graan this summer, says the province are ready and waiting for the most crucial period of the campaign.
With their two-match United Rugby Championship tour of South Africa against the Bulls and Lions now confirmed for 12 and 19 March respectively, it means the province will have 11 games in the next 12 weeks, starting with Friday night's away trip to the Glasgow Warriors.
And that run of matches could be extended further into May if they can advance to a quarter-final or even a semi-final in the Heineken Champions Cup.
Munster will also be playing their next four games, including the away trips to Pretoria and Johannesburg, without the vast majority of their Ireland contingent.
"It always is," Ferreira said, when asked if the province are heading into the must crucial part of their season.
Munster lie fifth in the URC table, and while they are two points behind this Friday's opposition, they have a game in hand over the Scottish side, as well as two games in hand over league leaders Ulster.
"Six Nations coming in adds that factor of it being the massive block. We've come out of a massive block as well, and what we achieved in that has been brilliant.
"Going into this block now you have the guys who haven't played in the last four weeks and this is how your squad is so important.
"Coming into Zebre, having a break, then Glasgow and then going to South Africa, these guys have the opportunity to put the club in a better position again.
"It's make or break, you lose a couple of games and the pressure starts coming. And vice versa, you win a couple of games and the confidence keeps on building. For this group we have at the moment, it's a great opportunity to put the club in a good opportunity for playoffs," he added.
Ferreira is heading into his final few months with the province, having joined shortly after Johann van Graan's arrive in late 2017.
The 38-year-old, who will also team up with Van Graan at Bath next season, says it was a difficult decision to move on.
"It was (a difficult decision), everything that we've created over the last four years defensively, family wise, settling into Ireland, the community where I live, everybody was so open and welcoming and even Garrett (Fitzgerald) the first time I came to Ireland, the time he spent with me, showing me around Shannon and Thomond Park and all the rest of it.
"Those memories stick with you. It was a tough decision to make, but it's made and we'll just move on and focus on the next four months.
"I'll just miss everyone in it (the organisation).
"A place and a building comes and goes, but it's the people in it that made it worthwhile. The memories we made on and off the pitch as management and as players, you start building those individual relationships which is irreplaceable.
"In saying that, when I leave, I would have made friends and I'll keep in touch with them which is massive."
In confirming the details of the rescheduled tour of South Africa, the URC have given reassurances they are working to ensure there would not be a repeat of the situation Munster, Cardiff, Scarlets and Zebre found themselves in November, when the discovery of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 let to teams being unable to travel home for several days.
"After review of the repatriation process that occurred in December, the URC will ensure that significant on-call measures are in place in the unlikely event of such circumstances occurring again," a statement from the URC said this afternoon.
"Additionally, the league's direct relationship with the relative government and health departments has also been strengthened."
