Jordi Murphy looking for perfect birthday present v Munster

Jordi Murphy says there would be "no better birthday present" than for Ulster to take a step closer towards a top two finish in the United Rugby Championship tonight.

The Ulster flanker turns 31 today, and returns to the starting team this evening for their crucial interpro with Munster at Kingspan Stadium.

Dan McFarland's side come into the week second in the URC table, but with with all three of their remaining regular season games against sides in playoff contention, a home quarter-final is far from guaranteed.

However, a win against fourth-placed Munster would go a long way towards securing a top-four finish, ahead of their final two matches against Edinburgh and the Sharks.

"We could get a home quarter-final and home semi-final advantage, you can't ask for any more," Murphy says, as they begin their difficult run in against Munster this evening.

"We’re playing teams that are there or thereabouts at the top of the table, not struggling behind. Everyone is in the hunt.

"Every weekend is a huge test, and we’ve got a lot to bounce back from. Munster are on a high after their big win, so hopefully it’ll be a good battle."

The 30-cap Ireland international has played just six times for the province this season, having been sidelined for close to seven months due to consecutive foot and knee injuries.

However, since returning in March, he's been a consistent presence in Dan McFarland's squad, coming off the bench in each leg of their Heineken Champions Cup tie with Toulouse.

"It was one of these things, I picked up a foot issue in pre-season and that had me out for the guts of seven or eight weeks," he says of the initial injury.

"I was ready, back to play, and tweaked my knee in training a couple pf days before my first game back,