GUINNESS PRO12: Callum Black says it is time Ulster delivered on the big stage

The loose head has started Ulster’s last five games and eight of the last nine, reached a century of caps and crossed the whitewash for the first time.

“It’s good to get a run of games, getting the milestone of 100 caps for a big club like Ulster running out with my daughter that night and getting my first try for Ulster it all worked out quite well,” said Black.

“I’m chuffed with how the season has gone, we’re in a good place as a squad and we’re on a good run so hopefully we can finish it off with a winner’s medal at the end of it.

“We have been in this situation before but I think in years gone by we have finished top of the table and haven’t got to that winner’s medal at the end but if you look at this year as it has gone on we have got better and we are peaking at the right time, we are very confident going into Friday night and we will give it our all and we’re very focused on getting into the final.”

The stats are firmly against Ulster, no side has ever won a semi away from home, Leinster have won 11 of the 12 meeting at the RDS and five of six in knockout clashes in all competitions between the sides.

“Everything is on their side, they are the home team at the RDS they finished top of the pile,” added Black.

“We respect them as a team and they are full of class internationals but we are going in on Friday night full of confidence and if we want to be in the final Leinster is who we have to beat and we are determined as a squad to put in a performance."

“We have put a lot of work into this week and put a lot of work into this week focusing on the game plan that we think can beat them.

“We know Friday night will be very different from the game we saw at home, it’s knockout rugby there is a lot at stake and I think it will be a lot tighter.

“We have to be very clinical, switched on and ready for the job at hand, it’s been well documented that we have gone close in the last few seasons and it’s about time we delivered."

“Leinster have been one of the top sides in Europe, it’s been close at the RDS and we got that one win but I think the other times have been lapses in concentration and small margins.

“You are playing against top class players at a well organised team if you’re off your game for a moment they will punish you but when it comes to it the RDS is only another pitch and we’ll just play our own game.

“I don’t think playing away will have much bearing on it in the end.” Ulster did put Leinster to the sword in Belfast at the end of April with a 30-6 victory.

“We’ve looked back on the game and will take the positives out of it but Leinster will be at home and I think they will bring a different game plan.

“They will be smarting a bit from the loss up here so we just can’t rest on beating them here at home because at the end of the day that counts for nothing now.

“We have to bring our game up a couple of levels to get the win.”