Ulster deciding to use the up-and-under to gain territory and they are having some success.

Jimmy O'Brien knocks on and Ulster have a scrum 40 metres out from their opponent's line.

It's a penalty to Leinster, but Ross Byrne isn't interested in the three points, they go to the corner.

But the lineout is butchered and Ulster steal to clear.

The hosts now get their first attack, using their big forwards to drive into the Ulster 22.

Early penalty for Ulster straight from the kick-off, with Stewart Moore tackled in the air. Billy Burns kicks to halfway

Ross Byrne of Leinster gets us underway at the Aviva Stadium

Can Ulster claim their first knockout victory over Leinster in nine attempts? we are about to find out.

With a fair few miles on the clock and having grappled with the entire spectrum of emotions that comes with being a high-level sportsperson, John Cooney seems comfortable in his skin.

Now 34, Cooney comes across as one of Irish rugby's deeper thinkers. He is content with what he has achieved in the game and, perhaps more importantly, no longer dwells on what he hasn't.

Cooney's popularity at Ulster stems from his willingness to open up when placed in front of a dictaphone or camera, a mindset not shared by a lot of his peers.

Read more of Matt Gault's feature here

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Ulster finished the regular URC season last weekend with a 29-24 defeat by champions Munster at Thomond Park.

The hosts needed victory to be sure of first place - and secure home advantage through the play-offs - but were 10 points behind at the turn after Ulster tries from Rob Herring and Dave McCann.

Graham Rowntree's bench proved telling as Munster turned things around in the second half, with Shane Daly's crucial 69th-minute try helping to extend their winning league run to nine games and seal a home quarter-final with Ospreys next week.

Ulster, who were already assured of an away tie in the last eight, saw their losing bonus point guarantee Champions Cup rugby for next season.

Read more here

Should Ulster require recent happy memories against Leinster before facing them in the United Rugby Championship play-offs on Saturday, they needn't look far.

Just three weeks ago, in fact, a packed Kingspan Stadium revelled in Ulster's thrilling win over their inter-provincial rivals to wrap up a home and away double over Leinster this season.

Given Leinster's interpro dominance in recent years, and given that they beat Ulster three times last season, the significance of Ulster's results in this fixture this term should not be entirely discounted.

But with knockout rugby comes a different Leinster, both in terms of personnel and mentality. That has usually been bad news for Ulster.

Read more of our match preview here

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Leinster bounced back from their Champions Cup final heartbreak with a 33-7 win over their fellow Irish province in the final-round URC contest at the RDS.

A second-string Leinster outfit dominated the first half as tries from Jack Conan, Jimmy O’Brien and Ciaran Frawley helped them lead 21-0 at half-time.

Dan Sheehan and full-back O’Brien added further second-half touchdowns with Colm O'Reilly notching Connacht's try.

The defeat ended Connacht's slim hopes of securing a place in the play-offs.

Read more here

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Ulster booked their United Rugby Championship play-off place with a late 23-21 win over Leinster three weeks ago.

The visitors to Belfast had appeared to on course for victory but a 79th minute penalty from John Cooney completed an Ulster turnaround.

Leinster had led 21-13 in the second half but an intercept from Jacob Stockdale brought Ulster back within touching distance.

Cooney completed the comeback with a late penalty to give Ulster a two-point victory.

Read more here

Irish international centre Stuart McCloskey has recovered from a groin injury to start for Ulster atoday.

McCloskey missed last week's defeat by Munster after being forced to withdraw on the morning of the game. Second-row pairing Alan O'Connor and Kieran Treadwell have not recovered after being replaced in the first half at Thomond Park.

O'Connor and Treadwell's absence sees Harry Sheridan restored to the second row with Cormac Izuchukwu moved to lock and Matty Rea given the nod at blindside flanker in what will be his 100th appearance for the club.

While Leinster welcome back James Ryan, they are still without Garry Ringrose for the Aviva Stadium encounter.

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Jordan Larmour, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan (capt); Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, Ciaran Frawley.

Ulster: Stewart Moore; Mike Lowry, Will Addison, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring (capt), Tom O’Toole; Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Greg Jones, Dave Ewers, Nathan Doak, Ethan McIlroy, Jude Postlethwaite.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Read more here

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Starting as underdogs against Leinster is something Ulster have become accustomed to over the years.

That's the scenario once again for today's URC play-offs quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium with the hosts firm favourites to progress.

But just three weeks ago Ulster got the better of their Irish derby rivals with a thriiling 23-21 victory in Belfast.

Indeed, that completed a double over Leinster this season after Ulster won 22-21 at the RDS on New Year's Day.

Any chance of a treble? We'll, we're going to find out in the next couple of hours in what promises to be another titanic interprovincial tussle.

We'll bring you latest from Dublin as the action unfolds.

Thanks for joining us.

Image source, Inpho