GUINNESS PRO12: Les Kiss says it would be disappointing if Ulster did not take the next step

Ulster head to Dublin on Friday night where they will attempt to become the first team to win an away play-off in the PRO12 when they meet Leinster at the RDS.

The all-Irish affair will kick-off this weekend’s semi-finals with Connacht entertaining defending champions Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening.

Historically the odds are stacked against an Ulster success, having lost five of six knockout games in all competitions against Leinster and only one win against their Provincial arch rivals in 12 previous visits to the RDS.

“It is one of the challenges,” admits Kiss. “The fact is it is a massive game.

“We went to the Ospreys and it was just a massive game.

“On a lot of fronts this is just a massive game and we dare not underestimate what home is to Leinster.

“For the past five or six weeks we’ve been at the edge of it, needing to win when we had to.

“So I guess that’s good preparation for a game that I guess is the hardest away game that you can play.”

Kiss admits on a personal level that he would be proud if his players delivered a PRO12 final.

“I think this group have really found out about each other and what is expected as well as the standards I expect.

“Everyone has worked around that. I can only take my hat off to the whole group at this point.

“But it would be disappointing it we did not go another step.

“We know it is not an easy one but we have got to stay focused on what we know works for us and hopefully it delivers what we need,” added Kiss.