Head coach Richie Murphy says Ulster face “three finals” of their bid to succeed in the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
Their defeat by Leinster on Saturday leaves Murphy’s facet in tenth place within the standings, two factors exterior the all-important prime eight.
Ulster host the Sharks in Belfast this weekend and end their marketing campaign away to Munster and Edinburgh.
“Yeah, it undoubtedly is,” Murphy mentioned when requested if Saturday’s last dwelling recreation of the season was a must-win for his facet.
“It’s totally onerous to know what it’s essential get into the highest eight however 47 or 48 factors will most likely do it.
“We’re on 37 in the meanwhile, so we would be fairly proud of 10 or 11 factors. Whether or not that be three wins or selecting up a few bonus factors, it’ll be very tight.”
After three consecutive league wins, Ulster had moved into sixth place heading into final weekend however have dropped to tenth after the 41-17 defeat by runaway leaders Leinster on the Aviva Stadium.
Murphy can even must take care of a variety of harm issues heading into the ultimate stretch of the common season, with backs Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore and Michael Lowry all injured in Dublin.
Props Callum Reid and Andrew Warwick have been additionally injured within the defeat, whereas hooker Rob Herring was changed at half-time.
“We all the time mentioned we might take every recreation because it comes,” Murphy added.
“Our massive fear is what state our troops are going to be in.
“I do know they may bounce again mentally and we are able to bodily freshen them up, but it surely’s simply the place we sit with accidents.”
