Ulster will face Montpellier in the Challenge Cup final at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Friday night, with the Irish province seeking its first silverware in 20 years and a spot in next season's Champions Cup.
The Belfast-based side missed automatic Champions Cup qualification after slipping out of the top eight in the United Rugby Championship following a late defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
Head coach Richie Murphy must manage without several injured and suspended players, including regular captain Iain Henderson. Nick Timoney will lead the team as stand-in captain.
Kick-off is set for 27 degrees Celsius in Bilbao, where thousands of fans have gathered at the Doña Casilda park fan zone.
The match is broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster.
“We've come this far and I think we are a good enough team,” said Timoney.
“We're not just here to go out and give it a crack, we're in a place as a team where we want to go and win.”
Timoney advised younger players to appreciate the rarity of a European final. “Just embrace it and love it.
They are unbelievably special occasions,” he said.
“I've been around long enough to know that these days are rare at best, so you just have to love every second of it,” added Timoney, who hopes the final can serve as a platform for future growth.
“Hopefully we have a great day and we can kick on, and use it as a platform to launch ourselves on to bigger and better things,” he said.
Timoney stressed the historic significance for the club.
“It has been a long wait, and for our fans and players, we owe it to ourselves to give it everything.”
Hooker Tom Stewart noted the unique atmosphere in training this week. “It's a week that's not difficult to get up for,” he said.
“We've all said it, being in a cup final doesn't come around too often. It has been a special time for the boys.”
Stewart praised the squad's unity under Timoney's leadership.
“It has been special to get behind Nick and watch how he has taken the team, and watch boys grow into the opportunity that is in front of them.”
“Everyone thinks, and hopes, these opportunities are going to come around all the time, but they don't,” Stewart added.
“It's special and it's not something we take lightly or take for granted. It's one we are really going to relish.”
The Belfast native recalled childhood dreams of winning a trophy at his home club. “Growing up it has been my home club.
I wanted to play here and you can only dream of being in a final.”
Stewart said the team has a chance to create its own legacy.
“For it to be in front of our faces, and for us to put our own stamp on Ulster, it would be incredibly special.”
Montpellier enters the final after a difficult domestic season, finishing ninth in the Top 14 and fighting off relegation.
The French club seeks its third Challenge Cup title, having won in 2016 and 2021.
Montpellier back-row Billy Vunipola said he faced initial skepticism from teammates after moving from Saracens.
“I had the same mindset when I joined Montpelier as I did when I joined Saracens because I had to prove myself to every single person in the changing rooms that I wasn't here for a pay cheque.”
“I wasn't here to pack up my bags and enjoy the last few years of my career,” Vunipola said.
“The only way I could prove to them that I was here for the right reasons, was to show them.”
Vunipola drew parallels to his move from Wasps to Saracens.
“I had to knuckle down and prove to them that I was there for rugby, and it's been the same here.”
The 33-year-old former England international admitted internal doubts after previous tournament defeats. “When I first came here, I wasn't where I wanted to be.
We just lost to Northampton in the semi-final. I was in and out of the team.
I didn't have a great World Cup.”
“There were those doubts in my mind, and I had to prove to myself that I can still do this.
And it was great to have a challenge where I was almost the new kid at school.”
Vunipola said winning would validate the club's coaching changes.
“Winning this weekend would validate a lot of the decisions that they made last year to employ a more localised or younger group of coaches.”
He warned against complacency, noting Montpellier's previous drop-off after success.
“After the second time, they won the Bouclier de Brennus, and then after that, they kind of fell off a cliff.”
“I think we want to win this weekend, but also we want to be more consistent moving forward, be in the top six more consistently,” Vunipola said.
“Winning a trophy can also pull you back because maybe you think you've arrived. You get comfortable.
You forget to do all the things that got you to the final.”
The match marks 27 seasons since Ulster won its sole European top-tier championship in 1999, defeating Union Sportif Colomiers 21-6.
The Champions Cup final follows on Saturday in Bilbao.
