Instonians out to build on welcome break with 'real switch' AIL promotion progress

Inst sit second in the table five points behind leaders Old Wesley and travel next to Stradbrook to face second-from-bottom Blackrock.

“The Christmas period was tough on the boys, I think there was a lot of grateful lads for that week’s break,” said Pritchard. “And, hopefully, now on the back of a good result, we can now sort of push into these last games and build up a good bit of momentum and see where that takes us.

“That performance (against City of Armagh) was more of what we expected and I just thought there was a real switch from us.

“The front row were outstanding and go through a lot of work, it was probably what the doctor ordered after that tough Christmas period for us now it's just important that we build on that.”“I think Blackrock were a lot of people's favourites at the start of the season, they've had some injury troubles but watching their games against Wesley I thought they looked really good.”

“They're in a position where they're fighting for their lives down there.

"They're at home...certainly not a game that we're going to take for granted or think lightly of.

“It’s a real challenge for us...going into the last couple of blocks is making sure we get more points away from home than we did in the first block and this is a good place to start.

“I think Blackrock will really try and start as fast as they can we've got to go down there with our mindset being in the right place.

“For us it's having that in our heads that we know that they're going to scrap very hard and we have to match that and go beyond that.

“Every week for us it's performance-wise we're really focused on that and if we could put in a performance like we did at home against Armagh there, I would go as far as to win any game in the All Ireland League.

“That's the big thing...every week we're trying to get our performances better and we just have to be ready for a fast start from them.”

Pritchard knows his squad won’t be complacent.

“I think it is just driving standards in training during the week and making sure we are switched on,” he said. “Away from home it is always difficult but it is about going out and performing to the best of our ability.

“We know what is at stake at the end of the season and it's just about building into that and building up momentum and doing as best we can every week and then seeing where we end up.”

Captain David Whitten and Josh Eagleson are ruled out but Ruairi O’Farrell and Bradley McNamara return – while Callum Reid and Lorcan McLaughlin have been released by Ulster.

It’s bottom against top at the Dub as Queen’s welcome Old Wesley.

The students are boosted by the return of Ulster lock Joe Hopes and centre pairing Wilhelm De Klerk and Lukas Kenny.

Armagh host UCC at the Palace Grounds.