McMillan keeps faith as Munster aim to strengthen top-eight foothold against Ulster

Oli Jager moving from the bench to the starting team is Munster's only change for this weekend's visit of Ulster. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Ulster may be travelling south to Limerick in the midst of a severe injury crisis ahead of Saturday’s crucial URC derby with Munster but the home head coach is taking nothing for granted as the southern province focuses in on securing a further foothold in the top eight of the table.

The Race for Eight, to borrow the marketer’s slogan from league headquarters, is down to its last three laps and everything is still to play for. With just seven points separating the Stormers in second place and Connacht in ninth, Munster boss Clayton McMillan is acutely aware that a strong finish to the 18-round regular season could be rewarded with a place in the top four and a badly-needed home play-off quarter-final for the under-pressure Reds, while the alternative could be landing on the outside looking in with envy as the title race reaches its conclusion through the knockout rounds.