Stormers clash is our immediate priority - Murphy
Murphy has been boosted by the return from injury of some key figures in the pack [Getty Images] The immediate priority for Ulster is Friday's penultimate United Rugby Championship [URC] regular season game against the Stormers at Affidea Stadium [19:45 BST] according to head coach Richie Murphy. While Ulster have a European Challenge Cup final against Montpellier to look forward to on 22 May thanks to their semi-final victory over Exeter on Saturday, there is no downplaying the importance of Friday's fixture with a URC play-off berth still to be secured. Currently, Ulster sit in eighth position, three points above Connacht who host Munster on Saturday [19:45].
A top-eight finish would not only see them continue their quest for domestic silverware this season, but would also stamp their ticket for a place in next season's European Champions Cup. While victory over Montpellier in Bilbao in a fortnight would also be enough to see them qualify for Europe's top competition, Murphy is certainly not prioritising that game and insists their meeting with the Stormers "is huge for us". "It's a massive couple of weeks for the club and for the players," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.
"We haven't been in this situation where we are fighting on two fronts, trying to get into the top eight [of the URC] and that's where our focus is this week. "They [Stormers] are a massive team coming over, top of the league at the moment, [with a] big scrum, big maul and loads of exciting backs, so it's a huge test and on a six-day turnaround it's tight, but hopefully we have got the balance right of training and freshness to get the lads to perform. "Our set-piece is going to be huge, but there are weaknesses in their team and we know if we get enough possession, we can cause any team problems.
" Bell back for Ulster's URC game against Stormers No time for Ulster to live in the clouds - McIlroy 'Return of key figures a boost' The return of some key figures is a major "boost" for Ulster. Angus Bell is fit to return to the front row after picking up a foot injury in the defeat by Leinster last month, while another returning prop, Scott Wilson is named on the bench for the crunch clash against the league leaders. Friday's game against the South African club has come just a little too early for Rob Herring with Murphy confirming the Ireland international "will return next week as we just didn't feel this week was right to being him back in".
With Jacob Stockdale (facial fracture), Stuart McCloskey (hamstring) and David McCann (knee) missing due to injury, the return of some experienced figures has come at a good time. "It's great as we knew they were coming back," Murphy confirmed. "It gives us a boost in our forwards and we're going to need it because the Stormers are coming to town and they are a pretty good outfit.