Ulster’s Rob Herring insists nothing less than a clean sweep of victories from their remaining RaboDirect PRO12 fixtures will do if they are to secure a home semi-final in the play-offs.

Last time out the Irish side saw they lead at the top trimmed to just three points by closest rivals Glasgow Warriors who triumphed 20-14 at Scotstoun, inflicting a third defeat in five games on Mark Anscombe’s men.

But stand-in hooker Herring believes such a blip in form is just a bump in the road – with the visit of Treviso to Ravenhill the first opportunity to bounce back.

And the 22-year-old admits everyone has a point to prove against the Italian side after their unconvincing 16-15 victory at the Stadio Monigo earlier in the season.

"We have six league games left and we want nothing less than a win from all of them,” Herring told the Irish Independent. "Going into the semi-finals we want to make sure we're in top spot so we can get a home semi.

“It's a goal for us and is on everybody's mind. It was very disappointing [to lose to Glasgow Warriors], and we have now lost three out of the last five, but it's the kind of thing we'll bounce back from.

"Yes, we had a bad day out there and it always starts with the set-piece. You have to get that first-phase ball and a bit of momentum."

Ulster, who have led the RaboDirect PRO12 table since week five, welcome back Ireland squad members Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson and Declan Fitzpatrick to their provisional squad.

And they will help defend their daunting home record as Ulster have tasted defeat at Ravenhill just once this season – a 12-16 loss to Ospreys at the start of February.

The Irish province have beaten Treviso on eight of the last nine previous meetings but last season the Italians recorded a famous 23-12 victory in Belfast in the RaboDirect PRO12.

They are also chasing back-to-back wins over Irish sides for the first time, having defeated Munster last time out, but Franco Smith’s men have won just once away from home in any competition this season.

And although head coach Smith was delighted with last weekend’s victory, he is expecting a very different challenge from a wounded and title-hungry Ulster.

"Mark Anscombe hasn't changed that much [at Ulster], he's carried on a lot with what they were doing. They have a lot of faith with the ball in hand,” said Smith.

"They use their forwards and backs to carry the ball. It will be very different to the Munster game. They will be up for it after the defeat against Glasgow.

"They want to stay top of the table so we aren't favourites, but that's how I prefer it. We will give it our all and the objectives might be a bit different."

Venue: Ravenhill (K.O. 19:05)
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU, 20th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Paul Haycock, David Keane (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)

Live on BBC NI