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Steven Crawford

Robert Baloucoune determined to make up for lost time with strong finish

Robert Baloucoune is hoping a big finish to the season with Ulster can bolster his claim for a World Cup place with Ireland.

The winger has suffered a frustrating season with injury but made a try-scoring comeback against the Bulls last weekend.

He is hoping to follow that up with another impressive performance against Leinster in the last-16 of the Heineken Champions Cup this evening and give Andy Farrell something to think about when it comes to selection for this year's World Cup in France.

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"It's been a tough enough season for me with injury," said the 25-year-old

"I came in from pre-season flying then I started to struggle with my hamstring and caused further injury.

"I had to manage my hamstring which is tough, but all I can do is train, perform and try to get back to where I was.

"I have to be careful with my sprinting in the lead up to games and also do hamstring exercises.

"I'm coming on the back foot now and trying to get as many games as I can and play them to the best of my ability.

"It is huge (World Cup selection) and it is always in the back of your head but I'll be playing against people in positions I'll be fighting for.

"Saturday is a big game for me to go and show what I can do, and I'll be trying to do that for the entire game.

"It's always huge and a great honour to play for Ireland, to be selected for a World Cup would be amazing.

"Week by week I'm just going to have to build and perform as best as I can."

Baloucoune knows it will be a tough task against Leo Cullen's unbeaten side at the Aviva, but having done the double over Leinster in the URC last season he insists they go there with confidence.

"It does give us confidence, and I suppose the last time we played them in Europe we were close to beating them as well," he said.

"The belief is there that we can go and get a result. We believe in ourselves, that's all you can do.

"It's important that we draw on our past experiences of beating them down there and we will definitely use that this week.

"Confidence from those previous wins and the buzz about the place will definitely bring us closer to it.

"We have to go in with the same mindset we've had for the URC games.

"We know it's a huge game and what we're going to have to bring, but we're always up for an interpro, it's not hard to get up for and we're all looking forward to it."

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