Ulster have more to lose in quarter-final - O'Sullivan

Eddie O'Sullivan believes Ulster's need is greater than Munster's in tomorrow night's United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Kingspan Stadium.

And that extra pressure might just be what tips the scale the northern province's favour, according to the former Ireland head coach.

The sides meet in Belfast tomorrow evening with their season on the line, with the winner set to face either the Stormers or Edinburgh away from home in the last four.

Six weeks ago, Munster went up to Kingspan Stadium and beat Dan McFarland's side to claim their first win in Belfast for five-and-a-half years, but their feeble showing against Leinster in Round 18 meant they failed to secure a home quarter-final.

Ulster rallied back from their poor form to beat Edinburgh and the Sharks to get back into the top four and earn home advantage in the last eight, but O'Sullivan believes the knockout nature of tomorrow's game means their previous meeting doesn't hold much relevance.

"I think you can forget about all that happened up to now, when it comes to this game," he said on the RTÉ Rugby podcast.

And while O'Sullivan acknowledges that it's win or bust for both teams, Ulster's need is greater than Munster's who will be starting a new era next season under incoming head coach Graham Rowntree (below).

"These are watershed games for both clubs. If Munster lose, it's a long drive home from Belfast. Their season will have petered out with nothing and there will be a lot of naval-gazing. The coach is leaving, and there will be a reset button, onto next year.

"If Ulster lose this one, this is another lame duck season. I hate to say it, but the biggest problem Ulster have had over the last number of years, no matter who has been caching them, is they have promised