'It is an exciting time for us' - Ulster's McCann

Ulster back row David McCann says inter-provincial derbies "are games you want to be involved in" ahead of Richie Murphy's sides' trip to the Aviva Stadium to face Leinster on Friday (19:45 GMT).

Ulster have made a bright start to the season in the URC (United Rugby Championship) but suffered their second defeat of the year against Cardiff in their last outing in the Challenge Cup.

Now, returning to URC action, they travel to face Leinster and Connacht before hosting Munster at the Affidea Stadium.

"All three of those games coming up are games you want to be involved in and you want to win them, so it is an exciting time for us as a club," McCann told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.

"We know all the players in the other teams which adds a bit to it, it is definitely a bigger game naturally.

"That rivalry is something you want to be a part of and it's really good."

Leinster registered back-to-back victories in their last matches in the Champions Cup after a mixed start in the URC, during which they were beaten three times in their opening six games.

However, McCann added that the defending URC champions are "very hard to beat" at the Aviva Stadium and that Richie Murphy's side have to compose themselves.

"They'll be, like they always are at home, very hard to beat so that is exciting," McCann continued.

"We know how good they are and their players are, so it is just about us going in there, composing ourselves and playing for 80 minutes.

"They have so much quality and depth, so it is over to us."