The league table could hardly be tighter with Glasgow, Leinster, Scralets, Ospreys and Munster separated by just ten points in the race for a play-off berth, with league leaders Ulster all but secure of their spot due to a seven-point cushion at the top.
And while Tandy is fully aware of the challenge facing his side tonight and in the remainder of the season, he fully believes they have the ability to handle the pressure and make the top four.
"This is a huge game for us in terms of shaping the rest of the season," he said.
"There's no margin for error after last weekend's defeat, we are realistic enough to know that we need to put in a winning performance to maintain our push for the play-offs.
"With teams in the top four playing against each other this weekend, the right performance and result could see us back into the top four and with six games left then it'll be in our hands.
"It's going to be tough whatever the outcome on Friday night, but as coaches we have belief in this group to tough it out when they have to.
"It's on nights like Friday that titles are won and reputations are made. If you look back at last season we bounced back from two defeats against Ulster and Glasgow at this time of the year and went on a winning run that took us right through to Dublin at the end of May.
"It's going to have to take something similar, so we'll roll up our sleeves and get stuck into the task."
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