Ulster coach Neil Doak insists his side must find another gear against Munster, despite knocking Leinster out of GUINNESS PRO12 contention so impressively last time out.

Doak and company’s push for a Kingspan Stadium semi-final is still in their hands but defeat to Munster on Saturday will make it that much more unlikely.

The Munstermen are a point ahead in second and Ulster’s task has got that bit harder after the news that Craig Gilroy will not take part due to a lingering hamstring injury.

Peter Nelson will take his place on the wing in an otherwise unchanged starting XV from the success over Leinster.

But as good a result as that win was, Doak says Ulster cannot afford to stay still against the might of Munster.

"We know that the way we played against Leinster two weeks ago probably won't be good enough," he said.

“We'll need to step it up again because Munster are going pretty well and after having a pretty comprehensive win against Treviso last time out they'll be coming up here quite buoyant.

“There are so many permutations at this time of year that you could look at but going down to the last day there'll still be a lot in play.

“You don't want to focus on it too much.

“There's a lot to play for and we've just to make sure that we focus on Munster and put all our efforts into
beating them.

“We've got to focus on ourselves and then the other results will take care of themselves."

As far as the forms book go, these clashes have always been close – and Ulster could have landed a famous victory at Thomond Park earlier in the season, ultimately going down 21-20.

"We had a good start to the game and fell off a little bit," lamented Doak.

"We were a bit disappointed that we didn't get a penalty try at the end which would have made the kick a bit easier but, saying that, those are the small chances that you have to take.

"All season, against the big teams, if they give you any small openings then you've got to kick the door down and get right through it. If you don't, you'll get punished."

Ulster will take some stopping at the Kingspan regardless, as they hold the best GUINNESS PRO12 home record this year with ten wins out of ten and 44 points.

However, Munster have had the league’s best fortunes away from home – 30 points in total – and have been boosted by the return of Paul O’Connell.

He’ll take up his familar partnership with Donnacha Ryan among the second-row, while Eusebio Guinazu packs down at hooker and Denis Hurley returns in the centres.

And though Munster coach Anthony Foley has been in the thick of his own top-four battle, he admits Ulster’s form has captured his attention.

He said: “They are going well aren’t they? In their last couple of games they have shifted up a gear.

“They have had the benefits of the weeks off like we had and it allows you prepare and be diligent around what you are doing.

“They came down here back in early November [Munster winning 21-20] and they took us right to the wire so we expect a battle up there.

“I think we went up there last year and we put it up to them as well. So it should be a very interesting engagement.”

At Kingspan Stadium, 2.40pm. Live on Sky Sports
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 124th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Nigel Correll (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Murray Whyte (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)