Munster Rugby have reached the business end of the season, doing so in a far more convincing fashion than this time 12 months ago.
The United Rugby Championship play-offs are upon us with the quarter-final weekend kicking into life on Friday night at Thomond Park.
Defending Champions, Munster, claimed the title last year in dramatic fashion bringing an end to a 12-year wait for silverware, stretching back to the former Magners League.
Munster were away from home for their last five games of the campaign, including the knockout stage. A win over the Stormers - who they would meet again in the final - was followed by a draw with the Sharks to claim fifth for the regular season to squeak in at the last possible chance.
Their standing at the end of the season meant they would be on the road for the remainder if the title was to be theirs and with that, a touring vibe took hold of the Red Army.
Away to Glasgow in the quarters, Munster were dominant to win and reverse their loss to the same side just two months prior. Then in the semis, they vanquished the old foe, Leinster, in a game that counted. The Leinster management team sent out a second-string Leinster side that day and ultimately paid the price, losing by a point at the Aviva.
Then it was back to South Africa to take on the Stormers on their own patch at the Cape Town Stadium. It was tight when they met in the late stages of the regular season and the same symptom would appear in the final.
A John Hodnett try at the death proved to be the decisive score for Graham Rowntree's side as they won the title they were never supposed to win.
A year later and they are back on the home straight, albeit this time it's the reverse with home games in the final eight and the final four to come, with the potential for a final to held on Leeside at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
They have won their last nine league games on the spin, with their last loss coming against Connacht on New Year's Day, marking just four losses in the URC for the season.
The team news for Friday's clash with Ospreys is expected on Thursday at lunchtime, but Waterford's Tom Ahern will not be in the mix for selection.
The Ardmore forward suffered an ankle/lower leg injury in their win over Ulster last weekend and is likely gone for the remainder of the season.
