Speaking the day before the game in Bilbao, Murphy called on his side to “embrace” the opportunity in front of them.

While losing the missing quartet is a blow, Ulster have been boosted by the return of Ireland wing Robert Baloucoune, who will make his first first start since the Six Nations due to injury.

“We keep talking all the time about playing the game that we want to play.

“We’re not going to change this week. We’re going to play a final the way we have tried to approach all of our games all season.”

Murphy added that he wanted to make his players feel as comfortable as possible as many of them step into the biggest games of their careers.

“It’s a big week, and the comfort in your daily preparation and your routine, that you have done all season, when it comes to a final is really important that you try and keep that the same.

“It’s about trying to make people feel comfortable and to give them the confidence that they have prepared really well.

“It’s a case of not getting in the way and to let people do what they are doing, but you keep them on task, which is to get them ready to play.”

Montpellier v Ulster

Challenge Cup final

Friday, 22 May at 20:00 BST

Listen on Sounds

Listen on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster; Build-up and live text on BBC Sport app & website

With 40,000 tickets set to be sold for the final, Murphy says the travelling Ulster support have been “really special” on the road this season, and he expects no less in Bilbao.

Montpellier are also set to have a healthy number of fans at the San Mames Stadium, which is a short hop across the border.

The French side, who sit second in the Top 14 and have last won the Challenge Cup in 2021, have named a strong side for the final and will be captained by former England number eight Billy Vunipola.

Murphy mentioned that Montpellier are “not necessarily a traditional French rugby team”, but their forward pack and electric backline have the potential to pose his side some problems.

“It’s a massive task. They have a very deep squad, from their top player to their lowest-paid player, there’s not a huge amount of difference in their squads.

“Whatever team they pick they are a formidable opponent, but we are a good team too so we are looking forward to getting out there.”

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