Conor Oliver believes Connacht revel in "pressure situations" as the province chases down a play-off place in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Connacht picked up 11 points from their last three regular-season games last year to finish seventh.
That meant a quarter-final away to Ulster which they subsequently won before losing to the Stormers in South Africa a week later.
This time around the race for the top-eight is even tighter with a home game against the fifth-place Stormers to come next weekend before a Round-18 trip to the RDS to face Leinster.
"Most games now are 'must-win’," said 28-year-old Connacht flanker Oliver, who made 27 appearances for Munster between 2016 and 2020.
"We’ve been in this position before and as a team when these pressure situations come, we react very well.
"There is always added pressure when it’s play-offs at this time of the season. Every team in the URC is feeling it this year, you look how tight the table is.
"A little bit of added pressure, but as a team we have to take it game by game and then come back in on a Monday and reevaluate where we are at and where we are sitting."
With just six points separating 11th-place Lions and the Stormers, results elsewhere are going to play a huge part in deciding the final standings.
"If we won one and picked up bonus points we would be in the mix but you know this league table can flip its head week after week with the way results go," said Wilkins, whose side's win over Ulster last season was their only away victory over an Irish province since May 2021.
"Our aim is to do our very best and win this week."
While Connacht are looking to make the play-offs, Munster, in third, are aiming to improve their seeding with an eye on a home run in the post-season.
They’ll have RG Snyman (below) available with the lock set to play just his second ever Interprovincial tie.
The Springboks second row’s only other derby came on his debut when he suffered a serious knee injury against Leinster back in 2020.
Despite missing out through a series of other injuries in his time, Snyman, who will switch to Leinster next season, says he fully understands the dynamic around the games between the rivals.
"The derbies in Ireland are very big," said the 29-year-old double-World Cup winner.
"That’s something I’ve come to learn over here quickly. You can get that sense and feeling from everyone.
"Even as you go around town in the week, there is anticipation building up every time there is a derby game.
"It’s special to play in these games are they are the ones you want to be involved in."
Eighth position would be good enough for Connacht to reach the play-offs, however, it may not be enough for Investec Champions Cup qualification.
Sharks, languishing in 13th place in the table on 23 points, have reached the final of the Challenge Cup.
They will take on Gloucester in London on 24 May and should they win will qualify for the Champions Cup next season, taking the eighth URC slot.
They squeezed past Clermont in the semi-final last weekend and Wilkins admitted he’ll be cheering on the Premiership side in the decider.
"Yeah, we are [all Gloucester fans now]," he said.
"I was wearing my Clermont jersey on the weekend. And Gloucester one [for the final].
"It’s nothing against Sharks but it would be handy for all of us in this mix if there were eight spots instead of seven but that will be what it will be."
Meanwhile, Connacht have confirmed the signings of Leinster duo Ben Murphy and Temi Lasisi for next season.
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