Ulster's Kiwi centre Paul Steinmetz says his side's opening game of the Heineken Cup at home to Gloucester can lift his team after a disappointing start to the season.
However home defeat would leave them with a mountain to climb in an open group, along with the Ospreys and Bourgoin.
"This is not the be all and end all of our season, but it would be silly not to say it is a big game for us," said Steinmetz.
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"We have not had a great build up in the Magners League but now we have had the same team together for a couple of weeks hopefully we are beginning to gel and get it right.
"It is nice getting the Irish boys back and now we will see in these big games how they can play.
"Hopefully Gloucester will come with too much confidence, but we know we will be tought to beat at home - we have proved that over the years.
"All the Irish provinces have a tough start and ours is just as tough as any, Gloucester are riding high in the Premiership and will be tough to beat.
"In our pool any team can beat any of the others on any given day providing they get it right and so we have to get our mental state right."