The Blues face a showdown against Munster on May 9 with the winner likely to seal the fourth spot in this season’s inaugural Magners League playoffs while Wasps entertain the Welsh region on Saturday in the last four of the Amlin Cup.

And although Rush admits their progress in the second-tier European competition holds little comparison to their Heineken Cup semi-final showing 12 months ago, he insists the Wasps clash won’t be lacking in quality.

“It would be cracking to end with a piece of silverware,” said the 32-year-old. “It would definitely be the note I would like to go out on.

“We have got these opportunities in front of us now, so hopefully we can take them.

“It builds confidence to win trophies and the habit of winning is important for a squad.

“Obviously the Heineken Cup is the premier competition but this is still a semi-final. And it could be Heineken Cup really. Both teams have been there or thereabouts in that competition in recent years so it’s going to be of that sort of calibre.”