For all bar two of Ulster's starting line-up in the semi-final win over Stade Francais, life has continued relatively normally.

Training, rest, training, rest, with their free time pretty much their own. But by comparison, Andy Matchett (along with his fellow part-timer Stephen McKinty) is almost something of a dinosaur.

For Matchett, yesterday was pretty much like any other in the last seven years, a busy day on the road as an insurance executive with Clerical Medical Investment Group. Prior to the team's departure for Dublin this evening, it will be the same story today. No rest for the part-timers.

"On no, not at all. I wish," says Matchett with a weary laugh at the notion that this week might have meant a respite. "We (the part-timers) are training at half-six, but I'll survive."

It hasn't been ideal, as Matchett accepts, since the change around in early October obliged the part-timers to train separately in the evenings on foot of a winless sequence of four games, but, as he concedes, "it paid off".

On the periphery of the team, Matchett was then limited to a couple of substitute appearances in the two games against Ebbw Vale - scoring a try in the second. But an injury to Stephen Bell prior to the quarter-final against Toulouse gave Matchett an unexpected avenue into the team.

He played well, and with Bell still not quite right, was retained against Stade where it was noticeable how much time David Humphreys seemed to have on the end of Matchett's brisk service.

He was keeping his fingers crossed that he would be retained in the starting line-up for Saturday's final when the Ulster team is announced today, thereby winning his 60th Ulster cap.

It was, and is, to Ulster's benefit that Matchett has a good understanding with Humphreys. "Och I do. Me and Humphs play well together. I always seem to know where he is." Funnily though, their oscillating club careers - in Matchett's case between his home-town club Portadown and, once again, Ballymena - meant they never actually played for Ballymena in tandem.

"The most notable game was when we beat New South Wales in Ravenhill, and Humph was playing that night and he got capped after that night. We worked very well together that night and have done ever since."

For Matchett, though, it's usually been a case of forever-the-bridesmaid since playing for Ireland at schools', universities', students' and under-25 levels. He did get a run-out on the arduous A/Development tour of New Zealand two summers ago, but it's become a bit of a running gag around the Irish playing scene how many times Matchett has been a sub on the Irish A side without ever getting a full Irish A cap.

The bright, affable, easy-going 29-year-old reckons it's been "10 to 12" times. You name 'em, he's subbed under 'em. Gus Aherne, Alain Rolland, Ashley Blair, Niall Hogan, Dave O'Mahony and Brian O'Meara.

"Och it was frustrating. It still is frustrating. It's one of those things. I thought I might have got a look in at some stage but I was always overlooked. That's the way it is."

If there has been a criticism of Matchett in the past, it might have been his temperament, and the way he never quite grasped opportunities to advance his career when they arose, such as in front of selectors or on that aforementioned New Zealand tour when he didn't play to his true form at all.

That possibly damaged his career more than anything else. Married soon after to Debbie, the Ulster A team physio, Matchett was then injured for the first half of last season and was almost forgotten, but he finished the Ulster campaign as first-choice scrumhalf and then showed his prolific try-scoring nature behind a domineering pack in Ballymena's early AIL surge.

A quick passer, with a good presence around the base at 5ft 11in and 13st, if there's been a criticism of his game technically, it would be that he's predominantly left-footed. It's a criticism he readily accepts.

"I think that's probably a fair point. It is a hindrance for a scrum-half if you're not right-footed and I suppose I would always be looking to kick left-footed. I would only use my right foot in defensive situations, that type of thing. I've never really mastered it as such."

Ironically, had Matchett been more proficient with his right foot from the base of the scrum then Humphreys' wonder try in the semi-final might never have happened, for in normal circumstances the retreating scrum outside the 22 would have called for a right-footed box kick along the line from the scrum-half.

For a mere 29-year-old, Matchett seems to have been around a lot longer than that. There have been plenty of highs, especially with Ulster, in his lengthy representative career, but nothing to compare with this extraordinary odyssey.

He attributes to the team spirit, the Ravenhill factor, the success to the return of the prodigal professionals, the experience they've brought with them and the reaction from last season's home-based players. As for his own form, Matchett says he's been very happy with it.

"It's as well as I've been playing in recent years to be honest, because even in the Stade Francais game there weren't many opportunities to run because the scrum was under pressure and the ball wasn't great.

"But I was happy with my service and I was giving Humph a lot of time on the ball, and that's the important thing. Because if I can give him and Mason time on the ball they'll put us in the right positions. I was pleased with my defence as well because everybody was tackling their hearts out."

More of the same will be required this Saturday. It's as big as it gets. "I suppose the semi-final was the next biggest game, but being realistic, this will be the biggest game of my life. It will be some crack.

"I think we'll do it. We'll have to bust our guts but with so many people behind us I think we'll play the game of our lives."