The 34-year-old looks to be out until the new year with his latest setback, and with Ronan Kelleher suffering a suspected fractured hand in the same match, Leo Cullen’s side will be stretched as the festive period looms.

On the bright side, Sean Cronin has been passed fit after the neck injury that prematurely ended his World Cup campaign, but with Saints eager to right the wrongs from last weekend, the home side’s impressive start will be severely tested here.

Will Ulster fans get a moment to relax?

It’s three out of three for Ulster, and on the face of it they seem to be dominating Pool 3, but what the players and the fans would give for a nice comfortable win one of these days.

After relying on late John Cooney penalties to secure one-point victories against Bath and Harlequins, they go into their second match against the latter having scored just seven points more than they have conceded.

An 18-13 defeat of Clermont was as relaxing as it has got for Dan McFarland and his side this year in Europe, but a win at Twickenham Stoop will put them in great position to reach the quarter-finals with two games remaining.

Qualification may be close to being secured, but if the Ulstermen are to mount a serious European challenge this campaign, they need to be seeing teams off and putting games to bed.

Cooney has been the shining light throughout this season, with a rejuvenated Jacob Stockdale proving himself once again. If Ulster can recreate some of the form they have shown in Guinness PRO14, they could make the most of a Quins side that is notoriously inconsistent of late.

Can Glasgow Warriors double up?

Kyle Steyn’s try gave Glasgow Warriors a memorable win out in France against La Rochelle, keeping them very much in the quarter-final hunt as a result. With a trip to Sale and a home clash with Exeter Chiefs to come, Dave Rennie’s team simply have to follow that up with another win at Scotstoun, preferably with a bonus point.

That should be doable considering that La Rochelle are winless on the road this season and now effectively out of contention in the competition this year with three defeats in as many games.

But after the loss away to the Chiefs in round two, and a middling start to the Guinness PRO14 campaign, Warriors could really do with a big win to get some momentum heading into Christmas.

And with rumours of a potential return for Fijian magician Leone Nakarawa after his sacking by Racing 92, that Christmas period could look very rosy indeed.