Ulster must wait to see if they can make it an Irish treble in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup after crushing Benetton Treviso 59-3 at Ravenhill.

With eight points from their six pool matches, Ulster - hoping to join Leinster in the last eight while Munster can also secure their place tomorrow - are in currently in position to claim one of the two best-placed runners-up spots.

But given Alan Solomons' side poor try-count - the deciding factor between two teams if they are level on points - Ulster must now hope that holders Leicester win at Llanelli and Cardiff lose at Northampton if they are to play any further part in the tournament.

At least Ulster improved their chances by running in eight tries against a woeful Treviso side who offered little resistance.

Ulster dominated possession from the start, running the ball from everywhere and opting to kick penalties to the corner in a desperate pursuit of tries.

But the majority of the first half proved a frustrating experience for the 1999 champions, with the attacks hampered by over-eagerness and persistent offside offences by the Treviso backline.

Indeed Treviso, completely against the run of play, took the lead with a penalty by Simon Mason, a veteran of Ulster's Cup-winning side.

But David Humphreys calmed the home side's nerves with three penalties and when Mason was sent to the sin bin just before the break, Ulster struck with tries by Gary Longwell and Neil Doak.

The second half started in splendid style for Ulster, with Tyrone Howe touching down within two minutes and the stage was set for the floodgates to open.

Paddy Wallace went over for a solo effort, before the move of the match saw Howe come off his wing to run in his second try, which Wallace converted from the touchline.

Desperate Italian defence conceded a penalty try in the 55th minute from an Ulster driving maul and then Adam Larkin, a substitute for Sheldon Coulter, scored with his first touch.

Treviso were again reduced to 14 men when Carlo Checchinato was sent to the sin bin in the 66th minute but it was not until injury-time that Ulster were able to score again, with Ryan Constable grabbing his second.