Ulster's John Cooney all set to 'lock horns' again with Antoine Dupont

John Cooney admits his opposite number today, Antoine Dupont, has very few weaknesses in his game and that limiting his influence will go a long way to helping Ulster over the line.

Toulouse welcome Dan McFarland's side to Stade Ernest-Wallon for the first leg of their last-16 Heineken Champions Cup this afternoon (3.15pm).

The French side’s starting XV contains seven members of the victorious Six Nations squad while there are two more on the bench.

Dupont was voted the tournament’s best player and continues to exert a massive influence on every game he plays.

"He probably doesn’t have too many weaknesses," said Cooney.

"His defensive game is incredible and he probably doesn’t get as much plaudits for that because his attack is so good.

"[There are some weaknesses], but I’m not going to say anything to give him any fuel. He’s playing unbelievable at the moment."

Asked about his preparation when encountering a player on top of his game, the 2012 Champions Cup winner with Leinster said: "I’ve locked horns with Dupont a couple of times, he’s an incredible player and I’m looking forward to playing him again.

"In these European games in general your preparation always seems to be a little bit better.

"I probably think about the game a lot more in my free time as well so it’s only natural that I’ll be thinking about the player who is going to be across from me in the game.

"I’ve watched him a lot recently in the Six Nations and I watched their game at the weekend. We all know what he can do, he can pull things out of nothing.

"I’ll be concentrating a bit more on what I can do and impact our team and try to negate him in whatever way I can.

"He kicks the ball a long way for kind of a small guy. We are going to concentrate on defending him