Garry Ringrose says Leinster must adopt a ruthless win at all costs approach to dismiss Connacht's challenge at the Aviva Stadium.
The Blues hold a five point lead into the home leg of the round of 16 tie and are favourites to take their traditional place in the Champions Cup quarter-finals.
But given the quality and fight of Connacht's performance at the Sportsground last Friday, nothing is certain when the provinces meet again in two days' time.
"No-one would underestimate Connacht's ability away from home," Ringrose said.
"Looking back, a game that stands out, I remember watching them against Ulster and the ability they have.
“I don't think it's an issue because we have a lot of respect for them. If they start the game as well as they did up in the Sportsground, that five points is negated pretty quickly.
“I think it's just mentally isolating it as a must-win game. It's a play-off mentality. Try to win at all costs.
"Take learnings from the week before and try and be better in certain areas without losing sight of the basics that help win a game.
“Then there's that awareness that they're a quality side, they will no doubt challenge us, but it's how up for it and how prepared we can be for something we maybe didn't see last week that they throw at us.
“As much as physically turning it around from a Friday-Friday game and getting yourself right, it's definitely mentally challenging to be at that peak of having that play-off mentality, win at all costs.”
Leinster are sweating on the availability of scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park after he was cited for his high challenge on Kieran Marmion in the game that earned him a yellow card.
A disciplinary hearing took place yesterday evening and a judgement is due today.
"It’s only half-time really," added Ringrose, who enjoyed the centre tussle with Robbie Henshaw and himself going up against Bundee Aki and Tom Farrell - the former an Ireland team-mate, the latter an ex-Leinster academy colleague.
"Looking at it as an isolated game, going down there to face a strong Connacht team and win is obviously positive and we're very happy with that.
"But it is all to play for come Friday so we have to go again and try to be better.
"No doubt they will try to be better as well and see where they could have got us on a couple of things and where they could have been a bit more clinical themselves.
"We’ll do whatever we can to win at home in the Aviva.”
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