Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin wants to top Euro pool

HEINEKEN CUP Pool Four
Venue: The Rec Date: Saturday, 18 December 2010 Kick-off: 1330 GMT Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster medium wave and the BBC Sport website

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Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin is confident of beating Bath for the second time in a week

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin says it is essential that his side beat Bath on Saturday to maintain their bid to finish top of Heineken Cup Pool Four.

"We have got to keep winning if we want to reach the quarter-finals - you can't rely on qualifying as a runner-up or we will end up in despair like last year.

"Last weekend's results mean that our fate is in our own hands again.

"There were a lot of tired, sore bodies about after the physicality of Saturday - we're making sure we are organised."

"We've just been talking through things and making a few little tweaks here and there - we've been working more on the mental side than the physical side of things," said McLaughlin.

The Ulster coach acknowledged that Saturday's 22-18 win over Bath "could have gone either way" but added that it would have been "a travesty if we had lost".

"We shouldn't have been in a position to possibly lose that game but Bath are a good side and we will not underestimate them going into this week's match.

"They have a tremendous amount of talent at their disposal in a lot of positions and have good players who can come back in.

"I think we will see a lot more of the form they showed in the last 10 minutes at Ravenhill when we go to the Rec.

"We must make sure we are accurate in all that we do and when we create opportunities, we must take advantage of them."