Peter O'Mahony admits that Munster have put themselves "under pressure" as they bid to make the top eight in the BKT URC.
Back-to-back losses against Bulls at Thomond Park and Cardiff in Wales sees Ian Costello's side sit on 41 points, and outside the play-off places with two rounds to play.
But just eight points separate the teams from fifth to 12th so finishing strongly, starting with Friday night's visit of Richie Murphy's Ulster outfit to Limerick would put the 2023 champions in a healthy position to make the knock-outs.
With just seven wins to their name in the league this season, O'Mahony, who is back in training following a hamstring injury, knows time is running out if they want to make the post-season.
"Look, we've put ourselves under pressure is what we've done," the former Ireland and Lions back row said.
"We know if we put our game together that we have the ability to put in some good performances and get the points that we need.
"We've spoken about our individual responsibility and our performance needs to improve front and foremost.
"We spent [Monday] trying to figure that out and had a great session.
"All you can do look after is this next couple of days training-wise, and put your best foot forward into the weekend."
Ulster, too, are feeling the pinch after a difficult season. They are three points behind Munster in the standings and have lost consecutive games, to Leinster and Sharks.
Jake Flannery (knee), John Cooney (ankle), Ben Carson (back), Ethan McIlroy (knee), and Ben Moxham (knee) are all injured, but Iain Henderson, Sean Reffell, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, and Eric O'Sullivan will be assessed during the week.
"We're expecting a good physical derby," added the 35-year-old.
"Ulster coming down here, it's always a spicy one, derbies in general always seem to add a bit more.
"They have the potential to be incredibly, incredibly good.
"We looked at a fairly extensive highlight reel of them playing some very impressive rugby, a very classy kicking game, very varied.
"The pack are certainly all incredibly athletic guys like [James] McNabney, these guys are very dynamic.
"Guys like Stuart McCloskey and these older guys who are incredibly important for them.
"If you let them get some go-forward ball with his ability to offload, the back three are obviously all incredibly dangerous as well.
"So they have threats everywhere. And it seems to me the way rugby is going is you're coming up against bigger and better teams every week.
"The main thing is that you've got to focus on yourself to get your performance.
"We need to worry about our individual performances and hopefully we'll have what it takes to get the win at the weekend."
O'Mahony, who announced his intention to retire at the end of the season during Ireland's Six Nations campaign, says he is at peace with his decision.
"Yeah, look, I was glad, I had a decision to make last year, and I was glad I didn't [retire]," said the Cork man, who won 114 Ireland caps.
"My big test was can you be competitive internationally? And as a result, you can be competitive in your club.
"And that was the right call. I've enjoyed the season, you know, there's been ups and downs, but that's part of the game, that's sport. I've loved it.
"I've picked up a couple of big niggles here and there that I've kind of stayed away from most of my career, soft tissue stuff that the physios are kind of looking at me with two heads that I'm not normally in the physio room being looked after like that.
"That's probably that's part of the old age and the body creaking a little bit, but I'm fit now, I feel good and I'm looking forward to the week, to be honest."
Meanwhile, Munster Rugby and IRFU have confirmed that Andrew Smith (above) has signed a one-year contract with the province for the 2025/26 season.
Smith joined Munster on a short-term loan in March and made an immediate impact, scoring three tries in four appearances.
The 24-year-old is a former Ireland U20s international and represented the Sevens team at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He joins from Connacht, where he made 14 appearances since joining in 2023.
Watch Munster v Ulster in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
