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When it comes to Ruan Pienaar this season, everything has that underlying sense than an era is slowly drawing to a close.

The Springbok scrum-half is being forced out of Ulster at the end of the season by the IRFU, and it's starting to become all the more real for Pienaar, especially since tomorrow's game against Connacht (kick-off 7:35pm) is probably the last time he'll ever face Ulster's interprovincial rivals.

It's against Ulster's wishes, and it's most certainly against Pienaar's wishes, that he goes, but come June he will be moving with wife Monique and children Jean-Luc (2) and Lemay (4) to a different challenge - rumoured to be French side Montpellier.

As much as the 88-time capped Springbok doesn't want to think about it, the harsh reality is he only has seven home games left, and it's unsurprising, therefore, that Pienaar says he's just trying to make the most of his opportunities before he goes.

"I've played a lot of rugby this season and I'm still enjoying it and I don’t want to miss out on any games here at the Kingspan because my time is running out," he says. "I want to play as many times as I can in front of the home crowd.

"For me it is about enjoying every time I put the Ulster jersey on. My time is running out and I only have a handful of games left, for me this season my goal has to be enjoy it and not put too much pressure on myself performance wise.

"I think you have to enjoy the memories you have made here, I only have a few left to make so hopefully they will all be good ones.

"There are a lot of lasts to come but for me it is just about enjoying it. As we get closer to the end of the season the more the emotions will show, but now it is all about the team."

So the topic of conversation has to turn to the challenge of Connacht this weekend, where Ulster are attempting to exorcise the demons of last week's 38-19 defeat to Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup.

There's a quick chance to reflect on what was an incredibly disappointing afternoon in France where Ulster fell 28-0 down after 42 minutes and, despite a small resurgence in the second half, were never within reach of a bonus point.

"Giving a side like Clermont the start we did wasn't ideal, especially away to them where they have a fantastic record," Pienaar reflects.

"Then I threw an intercept pass at the start of the second half which didn’t help either so you’re down 28-0 to one of the best teams in Europe in one of the toughest places you can go to.

"We showed a lot of character to score three tries and bring it back to 28-19 and we felt we stood a chance of getting a couple of points out of it."

This week represents a chance for Pienaar and co to get back to winning ways and try to re-establish themselves in the top four of the Guinness PRO12 if they could get the win over the defending league champions in Belfast.

That won't be easy though. Connacht come into the game off the back of a 20-18 win over Wasps at the weekend and were the team that ended Ulster's unbeaten start to the season back in October.

The Galway men haven't won at the Kingspan Stadium since 1960, but they've come close in recent attempts (Ulster only managed to win 18-10 back in April) and will fancy their chances.

"Connacht are playing well and there are some individuals who are in really good form," Pienaar says. "It's a big challenge for us and we had a tough time against them in Galway.

"Pat Lam has done something right through this team and the way he wants to play, the players have adapted well and have bought into the plan and they're comfortable playing in that way. They're a good team, they won the league last year and that says a lot.

"I think with these interpros they're always a big challenge and we're looking forward to it, hopefully as a team we can perform well.

"We still have a game in hand against Zebre and a win this week against Connacht will be massive for us going into the new year refreshed and on a high, there is a lot to play for and all the guys are raring to go and looking forward to it."