Ulster fans are set to go down memory lane after Dan McFarland’s men were handed a knockout date with Interpro rivals Munster in the United Rugby Championship.
The Red Army’s 35-25 defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening ensured they would finish sixth in the regular season league table.
And that teed up a date with Ulster, who slipped to third thanks to the Stormers' win at the Scarlets, in the quarter-finals at the Kingspan Stadium on the weekend of June 3 and 4.
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The last time the two Irish rivals met at the quarter-final stage of a competition was in the last-eight of the Heineken Cup back in 2012 when Ulster reached the final.
On that occasion, a Craig Gilroy try and 14 points from the boot of Ruan Pienaar helped the northern province to a 22-16 win at Thomond Park.
The winners of next month’s knockout clash will meet either the Stormers or Edinburgh in the semi-finals.
Munster coach Johann vam Graan expects a bruising showdown in two weeks time, but will take solace from the fact he masterminded a 24-17 win over Ulster at the Kingspan as recently as last month.
“That's the way the chips have fallen now,” said Van Graan of the last-eight match-up. “Ulster are a quality side, a good forward pack with a good kicking game.
“But if you want to go further you’ve got to win your quarter-final and that’s what we need to do against Ulster.
“We performed well the previous time we went up there but this is going to be a knockout game and a quarter-final to progress further in the competition.”
Ulster sealed a home quarter-final thanks to a pulsating 24-21 win over the Sharks at the Kingspan on Friday night.
Leinster, who topped the league table, will host Glasgow Warriors in Dublin, with the winners meeting either the Bulls or Sharks in the semis which are scheduled for June 10/11.
Dates and kick-off times for the quarter-finals will be confirmed on Monday morning following a meeting of the tournament organisers and broadcasters.
URC QUARTER-FINALS
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
DHL Stormers v Edinburgh
Ulster v Munster
Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
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