Ospreys head coach Toby Booth says his side will have to suffer if they are to upset Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs in Limerick on Friday night.
Ospreys sneaked into the top half of the URC table with a bonus-point win against Cardiff on the last weekend of the regular season to set up a quarter-final trip to face the top side and defending champions at Thomond Park.
“We’ve got ourselves to the window of opportunity, and we’re excited about it,” said Booth.
“Dealing with the occasion is a challenge and how we get to show our best. We understand against the best like Munster that’s not always possible.
“We need to understand it’s not always about getting it your own way, sometimes you’re going to have to suffer and hang in there.
“We’re in knockout rugby, there are no second chances.”
Booth’s side are the first Welsh team to reach the play-offs in six years.
“If Welsh teams are successful everybody wins,” said Booth.
“This is what we’re in it for, you’ve got to dare to dream.
“We set out at the start to get here, our goals were to get into the play-offs, get into the knockout stages of Europe, and win the Welsh shield.
“We’ve achieved all three of those and now everything is a stretched target.
“It is a credit to everyone in the group, the overriding emotion after last weekend was pride.
“We’re here now, let’s see how we do.”
Munster head coach Graham Rowntree is an old sparring partner of Booth following their coaching jobs in the English Premiership.
“Graham’s done a great job, I’ve known him a long time,” said Booth.
“He’s a very competitive individual, his team represent that and he’s taken them to the next level.
“They’ve come from adversity, there’s been parts of their season that haven’t always gone the way they would’ve liked, but ended up on top.
“That tells you they’ve got a tight group, with a lot of quality. They’re a team that know how to win and that makes them a dangerous opponent.”
