With three huge games in the space of fifteen days, Munster face into the next fortnight knowing that the results from these encounters will shape their entire season.

A trip to Ravenhill on Friday night is quickly followed by an arduous journey to France the following week to face Clermont Auvergne. Just six short days later, Declan Kidney's side return to Limerick where they will tackle Wasps in the final group game of their Heineken Cup campaign. Such a schedule will test the province to the limit both on a mental and physical level.

A victory for Kidney's side on Friday is a must if hopes of a second Magners League title are to be kept alive. The fact that the opposition are currently bottom of the table should matter little when these teams collide. League positions ordinarily count for nothing when a local derby is on the cards.

If the sight of a Munster jersey isn't enough to galvanise the Ulster squad then the appointment of a new coach in Matt Williams should give them further impetus. While the Australian won't be in charge in time for the game, his presence in the stands will encourage some of the squad to further raise their game. Williams enjoyed mixed success as Leinster's coach at the beginning of the decade, instilling an attractive brand of rugby along the way, and his arrival should be the ingredient required to kick-start the province's season.

Overall the Ulster squad is littered with undeniable talent. A back-row of Stephen Ferris, Neil Best and Roger Wilson is a formidable unit. However loss of form, coupled with some untimely injuries, has disrupted the potency of this trio and the knock-on effects throughout the side have been disastrous. The replacement of David Humphreys at out-half has left a huge void within the squad and as of yet his successor, Paddy Wallace, has been unable to inspire the team to a level similar.

Wallace is clearly talented enough to fill the role, but those involved with Ulster rugby are still waiting for the Ballymena man to realise his true potential.

The front-row is proving another problematic area. At the beginning of the season Irish rugby was rocked by the sudden illness that struck down Simon Best. Doubts still remain over the health of the Irish prop, who collapsed while on duty with the national squad at the World Cup. His absence has had a detrimental effect on the fortunes of his side.