This time last year, they pushed Leinster all the way in outscoring them on tries. A four-point defeat for the Scots looked all the better when put in the context of what happened seven days later at Twickenham where Leinster gave the most exhilarating performance ever witnessed at a European Cup final in beating Ulster by a record margin.
The Warriors return to the RDS reinforced by a grand total of 66 tries, more than anyone in the competition.
They have scored almost half of them in their last eight matches, a run which included a home win over Ulster followed by bonus-point victories over Munster (51-24), Cardiff Blues (29-13) and the Ospreys (35-17), a result which cost the defending champions their place in the top four.
Not for nothing has Gregor Townsend been elected the RaboDirect PRO12's Coach of the Season. His Warriors squad return to Dublin eager to go one better than last year when they answered Dave Kearney's opening try after 66 minutes with two of their own from Dougie Hall and Stuart Hogg.
It took them close but not close enough. Leinster went through 19-15 and when the Warriors were last in Dublin, on March 23, they again outscored their opponents 2-1 on tries and yet still wound up on the wrong end of the scoreboard at 22-17.
Ian Madigan accounted for all Leinster's points that day, just as he accounted for most of them again during last month's critical win over Munster in Limerick, a result which put Joe Schmidt's team back on course for the customary home semi-final.
Five players have started all three Grand Finals for Leinster - Isa Nacewa, Brian O'Driscoll, Jonny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Shane Jennings. Their aggregate appearances for the province add up to almost 750.
So far all they have to show for three winning semi-finals are three losing finals - to the Ospreys at home in 2010, Munster at Thomond Park in 2011 and the Ospreys at home again last year.
This time they have the added incentive of another final at the RDS, a week after hosting the Amlin Cup there against Stade Francais on Friday week (May 17).
Ulster's reward for topping the table at the end of the regular season entitled them to choice of ground venue in the event of their reaching the final. Because Ravenhill is not yet big enough to meet the minimum crowd capacity for such an event, Ulster nominated the RDS where they won 22-18 over Easter.
Stranger things have happened but it will be rather more than a surprise if they fail to make ground advantage tell in the opening semi-final, against the Scarlets in Belfast on Friday night.
The Welsh region reached the play-offs for the first time despite last Friday's crushing home defeat by Benetton Treviso.
The Italians were so dominant that they stayed in control through a period when they had two players in the bin at the same time. They still ended up with their biggest away win in the competition, 41-17.
Scarlets' president Phil Bennett admitted to feeling humiliated over what he called an 'embarrassing' defeat. Head coach Simon Easterby confessed to being 'speechless' before getting down to work on ensuring that his team rediscover their mojo by the end of the week.
Ulster at Ravenhill tend to represent the shortest of short straws but they have lost there twice this season - to Northampton (10-9) in the Heineken Cup before Christmas and the Ospreys (16-12) in the RaboDirect PRO12, admittedly during the Six Nations when both teams had to replace a galaxy of internationals.
RaboDirect seasons 2012-3:
Try Hat-tricks:
Tim Visser (Edinburgh v Munster, September 1, 2012)
Dominic Ryan (Leinster v Treviso, February 16, 2013).
Dean Budd (Benetton Treviso v Ulster, March 1, 2013)
Andrew Conway (Leinster v Ospreys, May 3, 2013).
Try Hat-tricks by Pro 12 players in other competitions:
Heineken Cup:
Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues v Sale, October 14, 2012)
Simon Zebo (Munster v Racing Metro, January 20, 2013)
L=V Anglo-Welsh Cup:
Tondi Chavhanga (Newport Gwent Dragons v Northampton, November 18, 2012)
Most goals in one match:
8 Greig Laidlaw (8 pg - Edinburgh v Connacht, April 12, 2013)
8 Harry Leonard (7pg, 1c - Edinburgh v Scarlets, October 26, 2012)
8 Kris Burton (5pg, 3c - Benetton Treviso v Scarlets, May 3, 2013)
7 Ruaridh Jackson (3pg, 4c - Glasgow Warriors v Munster, March 29, 2013)
7 Jonny Sexton (7c - Leinster v Cardiff Blues, November 4, 2012)
7 Ian Madigan (4pg, 3c - Leinster v Newport Gwent Dragons, September 8, 2012)
7 Ian Keatley (6pg, 1c - Munster v Edinburgh, February 9, 2013)
7 Dan Biggar (5pg, 2c - Ospreys v Zebre, October 5, 2012)
7 Owen Williams (6pg, 1c - Scarlets v Connacht, February 8, 2013)
7 Owen Williams (4pg, 2c, 1dg - Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors, April 12, 2013)
7 Paddy Jackson (5pg, 2c - Ulster v Benetton Treviso, March 1, 2013)
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