After a rocky start and uncovincing middle section, Leinster appear to have hit form at the perfect time, according to Bernard Jackman.
Leo Cullen's side are up to third in the BKT URC table, level on 51 points with Stormers and four behind leaders Glasgow with three regular-season games to play.
Leinster have lost five league matches but a recent run of form has seen the defending champions rack up four wins in a row in all competitions, a streak that also sees them in a home Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon on Saturday week.
They've had to juggle personnel across a busy season as they were bulk suppliers to the British and Irish Lions and the Ireland team, while they have also had to deal with a loosehead prop shortage and a season-ending injury to RG Snyman.
Last weekend they came away from an derby against an in-form Ulster with a bonus-point win after changing 12 players from their European quarter-final victory over Sale.
This all bodes well for the four-time European champions and ominous for their rivals, Jackman told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.
"[It's] glass half full because if you think about what was frustrating about them against Sale Sharks, or what was frustrating against them against Edinburgh was probably a slowish start," the former Ireland hooker said.
"Whereas they were just immaculate [against Ulster].
"They went to a place which has been really difficult for teams this year against an Ulster team bouncing with belief and form, lots of players in form and they destroyed them.
"I thought it was very impressive and also it wasn't Leinster's [first] team.
"It was only [Garry] Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and James Ryan, who'd started the week before so that's exactly what Leinster would have wanted from those squad players, to put their hand up.
"If Leinster beat Toulon, which I certainly think they will, he's going to need some of those players to play again in the URC to get them to the [top]. I think they're going to get one or two seed now.
"This has changed massively, they're on a run.
"And Glasgow and Stormers, who looked brilliant turning into the New Year, are both now in in a big wobble.
"Leinster may end up in a Champions Cup final, and top seed or second seed in the URC in one of their worst year's ever. That's the way it was looking."
Former Munster out-half Jonny Holland was also impressed.
"For them to rotate their squad, get that performance out there, to go 29-0 up, you're seeing the...I wouldn't say the Leinster of old, but the Leinster you'd expect.
"It's dangerous now with them coming into that form with all the internationals they'll bring in back into the into the team.
"They've got enough 10s that can win any game. So they've loads of options and it's very hard to look past their trend at the moment."
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