Leinster may be riding high after their Investec Champions Cup semifinal win over Toulon, but they are not going to be caught cold by the Fidelity Securedrive Lions when they arrive in Dublin on Saturday.
The defending champions are one log position behind the Lions in fourth spot and the top of the table clash will go a long way to settle positions for home ground advantage in the playoffs, with just two rounds left in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
And Leinster, who want to chase a Champions’ Cup and URC double are wary of the form that the Lions bring to Dublin.
The Joburg side have never won in Dublin but are the tournament’s top try scorers and have shown some great form in the past few weeks to almost certainly secure their first playoff spot in the tournament’s history.
Leinster assistant coach Tyler Bleyendaal fronted up to the media and said there was no way the side would take the Lions - who are on a six game winning streak - lightly.
“We know the challenge the Lions are bringing,” said Bleyendaal.
“They are extremely cohesive at the moment and playing with a lot of confidence and they are getting results from that.
“They are a very dangerous team with ball in hand. They punish any mistakes or any lapses in concentration. They are awesome in transition. They also defend really well and have got a great kicking game.
“It’s going to be a fiercely contested match. We have got a lot of respect for the Lions and how they are playing.”
With the URC log at a knife’s edge, a loss for Leinster may see them slip out of the top four, meaning no home ground advantage for the final weeks of the competition.
“The URC log is so tight. It’s hotly contested at the top of the table, so every point matters. “That’s why we have had to turn the page very quickly to focus on the Lions. We need to perform well and try to get a result.
“We have only got two league matches left and then the seedings will be there. We understand that having home advantage for as long as possible in the URC is a big advantage.”
Leinster will name their side for the clash on Friday.