Ulster vs Leinster: Juarno Augustus aiming high in the hope of securing home advantage

Ulster back row Juarno Augustus says the team are focused on finishing as high up the United Rugby Championship table as they can to try and secure home advantage in the knockout stages as the battle for silverware hots up in the latter stages of the season.

Richie Murphy’s side sit third in the table with four rounds of regular season fixtures remaining but face a testing run-in with Friday’s visit of Leinster to Belfast followed by matches against Munster, the Stormers and table toppers Glasgow Warriors.

The South African says confidence is high after European Challenge Cup wins over Ospreys and La Rochelle set up a semi-final at home to Exeter Chiefs on 2 May.

“We are playing four of the best so all we need to do is take it week by week, recover well and then just go again when it’s game day,” the 28-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

“We’re focusing firstly on the URC now because we want to get a home quarter-final, a home semi-final. That’s what teams are playing for now.

“If we win a few games we can get second or first in the table and that’s what we’re aiming for.”

The back-to-back European wins were both played in challenging conditions at the Affidea Stadium, but the number eight is philosophical about adapting gameplans to suit different weather conditions.

“We want to play expansive rugby, that’s what we want to do, but unfortunately it’s out of our control, so we have to adapt to the weather conditions and the teams we play over the next few weeks.

“If the weather is better we can show better what we have.”

Augustus added that he was pleased to have overcome the frustration of a lengthy spell on the sidelines because of the ankle injury he suffered in December.

“For me I felt like I could go but then I had felt a little niggle, but hopefully it’s all behind me now. Hopefully I can finish the season well and the team can finish it well also.”