Only a win will do as Ulster plan attack on The Stoop

For the second year in a row Ulster arrive into the final round of pool games in the Investec Champions Cup needing a win to keep their campaign alive.

It's one day short of a year since Dan McFarland's side clawed their way through to the last-16 with a 22-11 win against the Sale Sharks at Kingspan Stadium, with that victory being their sole win in the pool stage.

This year the challenge is the same on paper, but more difficult in reality, with Ulster requiring a win away from home against Harlequins (1pm). The Premiership side are already through to the last-16, but with the prize of a home draw in front of them, Quins have picked a strong squad. There's no signs of them putting their feet up.

There's a scenario in which Ulster could qualify with a losing bonus-point, but for that to happen they would need Cardiff to claim a win (without a BP) away to Racing 92, an outcome that would generously be described as unlikely.

"It's knockout for us," Stuart McCloskey says, with the Ulster centre hoping that they can catch Harlequins on the hop after they guaranteed their knockout place by beating Cardiff a week ago.

It's been an up and down season for the province, whose season can be summed by the first two weeks of 2024, defeating Leinster 22-21 at the RDS on New Year's Day before being blown apart by Toulouse in Belfast a week ago.

Midway through the season, it's becoming increasingly difficult to predict which Ulster will turn up on a given week. Wins against Munster, Connacht, Leinster and Racing 92 have been offset by defeats to Glasgow and Edinburgh in the URC, as well as heavy defeats to both Bath and Toulouse in this tournament.

"Hopefully we can bounce back this week. I think we'll turn it round against Quins," said