In fact, O'Connor's troops face a battle to maintain their place in the top six, which would ensure they automatically qualify for a place at European rugby's top table next season.
Victory over Treviso when they face the Italian outfit underneath the Friday night lights at the RDS Arena would go a long way towards securing that spot.
The visitors are 11th in the table with only countrymen Zebre below them, having registered just three league wins all year, although they drew 24-24 with Leinster back in November.
Treviso are a hard-hitting outfit and O'Connor insists his team will have to be on their game to avoid being knocked out of shape.
"Basically, they are very physical," explained the Australian. "They play a pretty abrasive brand of footy.
"And they are pretty abrasive at the set-piece although they haven't been as dominant at scrum as they have been in recent seasons.
"But they pushed a very good Munster side away from home last week so we have a lot of respect for them. We went over there and probably gifted them two tries.
"To draw that game was incredibly disappointing for us, but it gives us a pretty good understanding that if you're not at your best then they will compete very hard in every facet of the game and put you under pressure."
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