Ulster recorded a famous 22-21 win earlier this 12 months towards Leinster, however for Saturday’s assembly, they are going to be with out 5 of the starters from that sport on the RDS with accidents ravaging the squad.
Leinster, who sit second within the desk, have been a lot improved since that loss, however with a Champions Cup last towards Toulouse subsequent weekend, Leo Cullen has opted to relaxation a number of key gamers.
McCloskey is aware of that Leinster will nonetheless pose a giant risk, however he hopes Ulster’s personal current good kind after a three-game profitable streak may help them over the road.
“No matter group they’ll convey it will likely be a tricky activity, however realistically we simply need a win, get into the play-offs and provides ourselves an opportunity,” McCloskey defined.
“We actually wanted it [a winning run], we have been on the backside of the nicely after the Clermont loss and we knew we would wish 14 or 15 factors out of the following three video games to present ourselves an opportunity to get into the play-offs.
“We have to go now and ship at house which we have now achieved through the years. Not many groups have achieved the double over Leinster in recent times, and we have taken learnings of what went nicely and what did not go nicely [in January] and we’ll strive squeeze out a slender victory.”