Preview: Ulster v Aironi
Ulster will be determined to bag maximum Heineken Cup points in Friday's Pool 4 clash with Aironi at Ravenhill.
Ulster will be determined to bag maximum Heineken Cup points in Friday's Pool 4 clash with Aironi at Ravenhill.
Only a bonus point win will do for the Belfast-based outfit in the first of their back-to-back clashes if they are serious about mounting a real challenge and reaching the knockout stages.
Aironi, who recorded one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history when they beat Biarritz last season, are in only their second season of Heineken Cup rugby and have still to win a game on the road.
Ulster beat Clermont in the Pool opener and lost to Leicester in Round Two, but will be aiming to qualify for a second successive Heineken Cup quarter-final place in two years.
The home side have won their last nine games in the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill and will also be looking to build on that impressive home record when Aironi come to town.
The Ulstermen shared a pool with Aironi in last season's tournament and picked up 10 points from the two games, scoring 10 tries in the process.
In team news, Ruan Pienaar and Paddy McAllister have both been included in Ulster's starting line-up.
Brian McLaughlin has recalled Pienaar at scrum-half in place of Paul Marshall, who drops to the replacements bench. He is partnered at halfback with Ian Humphreys, and the backline remains otherwise unchanged from last week's win over Scarlets.
Paddy McAllister is given an opportunity to start at loosehead prop, with Ireland international Tom Court making way.
Stefan Terblanche, who arrived in Belfast on Sunday, has gone straight into the matchday squad and will win his first cap for the Province if he takes the field.
The former Springbok has the ability to cover full-back, wing and centre. Elsewhere on the bench, Andi Kyriacou will provide cover at hooker instead of Nigel Brady.
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Nevin Spence, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Paddy McAllister.
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Tom Court, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Stefan Terblanche.
Aironi: 15 Giiulio Toniolatti , 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Tito Tebaldi, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Carlo del Fava, 3 Lorenzo Romano, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini,
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice , 17 Alberto de Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Naas Olivier, 23 Gilberto Pavan.
Date: Friday, 9 December
Venue: Ravenhill
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT