Ulster centre James Hume believes Dan McFarland’s men are now genuine “contenders” in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
The province sealed a top two finish in Pool A after surviving a late fightback from Clermont to secure a bonus point 34-31 win at the Kingspan Stadium.
Saturday’s win made it four straight victories in the group and guaranteed a home quarter-final should Ulster clear the two-legged round of 16 in April.
“That was our aim,” said Hume, whose all-round performance against the French side saw him pick up the Heineken Star of the Match award.
“We have put a good string of results together, but making it through to the last-16 wasn’t good enough for us.
“We wanted a home quarter-final if we want to be a cup winning side, so that’s what we went for this week and we got the win.”
Asked if Ulster, who remain relative outsiders with most bookmakers to win the Champions Cup, are now contenders to go on and win the competition, Hume told BT Sport: “Yeah, I believe we are.
“The group (of players) we have here is very special and anyone who has been watching us has seen exciting games like that.
“We’re good to watch and hopefully we’ll tidy some things when we get into the last-16.”
On suffering a nervy finish after Clermont’s late rally in Belfast, the 23-year-old said: “That was mayhem! We knew what we had to do and managed to execute it in the end.”
Hume’s high-level performances for Ulster this season, particularly in Europe in recent weeks, saw the mobile No13 named in Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad last week.
Ireland are set to embark on a training camp in Portugal before kicking-off the championship at home to Wales on February 5.
“I’m buzzing to get down to Portugal for the training camp,” said Hume. “I’m really looking forward to that and getting mixed in with the boys and hopefully it will be a good few months.”
