Connacht can't say they haven't been warned.
The aggregate score in two losses against Ulster so far this season is 58-30 with six of eight tries conceded coming directly from penalty concessions.
Hooker Tom Stewart is the BKT URC’s leading try-scorer with many of those coming from lineout mauls, including three against Friday night's quarter-final opponents Connacht (7.35pm).
In total Andy Friend’s men have conceded 23 penalties and one yellow card in this season’s fixtures against Ulster.
Dan McFarland's side lead the way in maul tries, scoring 16 and also topping the maul metres made with 467.
Addressing that aspect of the match is key to Connacht’s chances of going further in the competition.
They do have a potential game-winner in their ranks with lock Niall Murray having 16 lineout steals this season, the most in the tournament.
"I think our discipline away from home is going to be huge and our defence," scrum-half Caolin Blade, a try-scorer in the opening round 36-10 loss to Ulster back in September, said.
"You don’t have to have your best performance but you need to apply pressure on Ulster.
"You can’t let them have their best performance. It comes down to unforced errors, it comes down to discipline, getting points on the board is going to be massive.
"I’m quite aware we’ve lost to Ulster twice this year and we’ve looked a bit into that and areas of the game they have dominated us. If we match them in them areas we’ll be quietly confident going up.
"We turned a corner probably the last time Ulster beat us [in December], at the Sportsground. We’ve gone on a really good run since.
"Confidence and having a good run coming into this game mean nothing if we don’t produce it again.
"We’ve scouted Ulster, the way they defend and our attack is going to be huge but our discipline and our defence is going to allow us opportunities to attack."
The visitors have lost their last three matches against Ulster and defeat would signal the end of Friend’s Connacht tenure as the director of rugby takes leave after five years in charge for his native Australia at the end of the campaign.
Blade, 29, paid tribute to his boss: "The first thing I will say is how much of a gentleman he is and a really sound man.
"The relationship he has with the players and Connacht in general, not just in the rugby community but everyone can see how much him and his wife have had an impact on people around here.
"He’s given me huge confidence, he’s built a culture in Connacht to improve every day and express yourself on the pitch. I won’t thank him yet cos we’ve another few weeks but he’s been immense."
The Galway native won one Irish cap against the USA in 2021 and is conscious that a run in the play-offs may see him come up against others pushing for a place in Andy Farrell’s plans ahead of the World Cup.
"It gives you confidence but it also shows you that you need to stay working," said Blade about the time spent in camp in this season’s Six Nations campaign.
"The scrum-halves that are in there are extremely good players. I’ve been trying to take as much from them as I can and learn what they are doing well and apply it to my own game.
"I need to keep my level extremely high if I want to push on and play for positions in the national side. I think I have done that as well. I can be confident in that because there is always room for improvement."
Blade may also find himself in direct opposition with John Cooney, the Ulster scrum-half, who was last capped for Ireland in 2020, and who was at Connacht when Blade was coming through the ranks.
He added: "John was here when I was coming through. I get on really well with John. He was one of the scrum-halves that really helped me coming through.
"He used to help me every day with my passing and that so I have the utmost respect for him. He is an extremely good player and he's getting better and better.
"I suppose that will be all left until after the game and I’m going to try my best to challenge him as much as I can and see how the game goes."
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Watch the BKT URC quarter-finals, Leinster v Sharks (Saturday, 5pm) and Glasgow Warriors v Munster (Saturday, 7.35pm), on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on the RTÉ News app or RTÉ.ie/Sport or listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Follow a live blog of Ulster v Connacht (Friday, 7.35pm) or listen to live commentary on Game On on RTÉ 2fm.
