While Ulster’s players and management insist that the focus is entirely on Saturday’s lunchtime clash with Pool 1 leaders La Rochelle, it’s become clearer who will be replacing Christian Leali’ifano when the Wallaby’s short-term contract ends this month.

It’s a fixture which Connacht have only won four times in 29 meetings but coach Kieran Keane is hoping that Tiernan O’Halloran’s decision to remain at the Sportsground will be the start of a great festive period.

Dragons 32 Ulster 32: Australian international Christian Lealifano salvaged a 32-32 draw for Ulster with a last minute try against the Dragons at Rodney Parade.

Guinness PRO14: Southern Kings 36 - Ulster 43: Ulster staged a superb second-half fightback to record a 43-36 Guinness PRO14 win over Southern Kings after trailing 22-10 at the break in Port Elizabeth.

It was not as if Leinster put Ulster to the sword in a lively, if disjointed Guinness PRO14 derby at the weekend, they simply sliced and diced them!

Benetton Treviso 14 - Ulster 21: Andrew Trimble scored two first-half tries as Ulster held on to beat Benetton Treviso 21-14 at the Stadio Monigo for their second straight Guinness PRO14 win.

Ulster 42 Cheetahs 19: Bloemfontein-based Toyota Cheetahs motored majestically onto Pro14 scene and immediately lit up the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster ended their four-game losing run in all competitions in resounding style by racking up a 24-18 bonus-point victory over Edinburgh in the Guinness PRO12 at the Kingspan Stadium.

Exeter 31 Ulster 19: Ulster boss Les Kiss cut a frustrated figure as his side’s hopes of reaching the European Champions Cup quarter-finals ended in England’s West Country last night.

A controversial penalty try helped Scarlets to a narrow 16-13 Guinness PRO12 victory over Ulster at a rain-drenched Parc y Scarlets.

Guinness PRO12 leaders Ulster left it late to beat Ospreys as Paddy Jackson's 79th-minute penalty secured the hosts a 9-7 victory.

Ulster struggled to defeat a weakened Scarlets side at the Kingspan Stadium last night.

Ulster 17 Dragons 15: A Paddy Jackson penalty two minutes from the end of the game catapulted Ulster to the top of the Guinness PRO12.

Ulster 7 Munster 9: The often-criticised Ian Keatley emerged as Munster’s hero as the province halted their worst losing streak for a decade in sneaking a deserved Pro12 victory over Ulster in their own back yard.

Ireland World Cup players Simon Zebo and Donnacha Ryan look set to be in the Munster squad for Friday’s eagerly- awaited Guinness Pro12 clash with Ulster at Thomond Park (kick-off 6pm).

Ulster signalled its serious intent for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 semi-final at Glasgow Warriors by naming its strongest possible side.

Glasgow 32 Ulster 10

Connacht 20 Ulster 27: Ulster’s title hopes and Connacht’s less ambitious but equally important Champions Cup qualification dreams both remain on target after a seven-try Pro 12 thriller at the Galway Sportsground.

Tommy Bowe notched his 60th and 61st Guinness Pro12 tries as Ulster led from start to finish in a 27-20 bonus point win over Connacht at the Sportsground.

Guinness Pro12

Guiness Pro12

Craig Gilroy will become the youngest player to win 100 caps for Ulster when he lines out against Benetton Treviso at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night, kick off 7.35pm.

European Champions Cup Pool 3

Guinness Pro12

Ospreys 31 Ulster 20

Ulster 24 Scarlets 9

GUINNESS PRO12:

Louis Ludik, one Ulster’s three South African acquisitions this summer, has warned against showing too much respect to tomorrow’s European Champions Cup opponents Toulon.

Leicester put indifferent domestic form behind them as they made a strong start to their European Rugby Champions Cup Group Three campaign by sinking Ulster at Welford Road.

UIster inflicted the first defeat of the season on table-toppers Glasgow and duly returned to third place in the Guinness PRO12 table.

Cardiff Blues 9 Ulster 26

Scarlets 32 Ulster 32

Scarlets 32 Ulster 32