Dan McFarland is confident Ulster will rise to the challenge against La Rochelle as they look to arrest their slump in form.
The province are in France for the latest acid test in what has quickly turned into a car crash season for McFarland's side.
Ulster have lost five of their last six games including a 36-29 defeat to La Rochelle last month at the Aviva Stadium.
Read more: Ulster lose again as Stephen Ferris offers damning verdict
They are massive underdogs to reverse that form against the reigning European champions on Saturday evening at the Stade Marcel Deflandre (5.30pm kick-off), but McFarland believes his players are close to rediscovering that winning touch.
"We were a whisker away from winning our last three games. If we work hard, we will turn a corner and start playing better, and ultimately, we will win games," McFarland said.
“Stade Rochelais are a big team, both in terms of size and how many talented players they have. The players selected for Saturday will relish it, and it’s a great opportunity for us to go up against the best.”
McFarland is abiding by the old adage that Ulster haven't 'become a bad team overnight', and remains confident Ulster's "processes" will start reaping rewards.
"You are questioning what you are doing day to day, but you can't do it too much," he stressed.
"You can send yourself down a rabbit hole on that. I know the processes we do are effective. They are good quality, high performance processes.
"I need to use my energy to keep driving those forward and improve day in, day out."
Ulster have been boosted by the return of out-half Ian Madigan from long-term injury. He is one of eight changes from last week's 31-29 defeat to Benetton.
McFarland is without Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune (hamstring) and flanker Sean Reffell (ankle) who picked up injuries in Treviso, while there is no place in the squad for scrum-half John Cooney, with Ulster reportedly saying his absence is due to squad rotation.
Team news
Ulster: Lowry, Lyttle, Moore, Marshall, Stockdale, Madigan, Doak; Rory Sutherland, Herring, Toomaga-Allen, Alan O'Connor, Treadwell, Henderson (capt), Timoney, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Andrew, O'Sullivan, Warwick, Sheridan, McCann, McDonald, Burns, McIlroy.
La Rochelle: Paiva, Lagrange, Colombe Reazel, Dillane, Picquette, Bourdeau, Boudehent; Alldritt, (capt), Berjoni, Hastoy, Boudehent, Favre, Seuteni, Thomas, Dulin.
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Wardi, Sclavi, Sazy, Hatherell, Kerr-Barlow, Popelin, Rhule.
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