Ulster flanker Nick Timoney is determined to prioritise points over permutations as Dan McFarland’s men hit a Celtic crossroads in the United Rugby Championship.
Following last week’s defeat to Munster and recent back-to-back losses in South Africa, the province is suddenly playing catch-up with time running out.
After tumbling outside the top four, a home quarter-final and - whisper it - Champions Cup qualification itself are suddenly up in the air.
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Not that Timoney is ready to be distracted by a raft of potential outcomes as Ulster prepare for Saturday night's penultimate regular season fixture against Edinburgh in Scotland (7.35pm).
“You can spend time calculating points and permutations but if you win your games, sweet,” he said. “We know what the task in hand is and I haven’t really thought that deep into it.
“The intensity is cranked up a small bit but you don’t want to get too uptight focusing on the permutations. You just have to focus on winning.”
While finishing fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth secures a play-off spot, Timoney knows the reward for a top four finish is a home quarter-final.
After today’s trip to Scotland, Ulster conclude their league campaign at home to the Sharks, who have muscled their way into play-off contention in recent weeks, on May 20.
“If we did end up with an away quarter-final, we wouldn’t be heads down thinking we have no chance, but ultimately we want to play at home.” he said.
“We like our chances at home and we like giving our fans an easy trip to the game. It’s certainly not a case of ‘whatever happens, happens’ in the last two rounds.
“We definitely want to get a home quarter-final and that’s important for the club.”
While Ulster have lost four of their last five games in all competitions, Timoney insists no panic buttons are being pressed.
“We’re sitting here disappointed after two home losses (to Munster in the URC and Toulouse in Europe) but it’s not as if we’re a million miles away,” he said.
“We’re not OK with it, but for us, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. We can’t lose belief in what we’re doing.”
Ulster, who last lifted silverware in the old Celtic League in 2006, are looking forward to a first ever outing at Edinburgh’s Dam Health Stadium - and its artificial pitch - which was opened last year.
“It’s going to be different and it’ll probably have a bit more atmosphere about it,” said Timoney.
“But one of our huge improvements this season is our ability to go to places that can be hostile like the RDS and Toulouse and we’ve got results. It’s nothing new.”
ULSTER: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, McIlroy; Burns, Doak; Warwick, Herring, Milasinovich, Treadwell, Henderson; Marcus Rea, Timoney, Vermeulen.
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