Humphreys the worry

Biarritz v Ulster Today, 2.0 p.m.Ulster have been left sweating overnight on the fitness of their talisman David Humphreys. He will have a fitness test this morning on his injured hamstring before this afternoon's game against French champions Biarritz.Humphreys' influence was underlined last week when guiding Ulster home even though some way short of his best due to the stomach bug which ultimately confined him to bed for three days from within half an hour of the full-time whistle.

Coach Alan Solomons did not sound too optimistic last night when rating Humphreys' chances of being passed fit better than 50-50. With their back options already looking threadbare, Ulster's options are limited in the event of Humphreys not making it.

Adam Larkin would move to outhalf from centre, with Justin Bishop probably moving inside and either Jan Cunningham or Sheldon Coulter moving up from the replacements in the ensuing reshuffle. As their only remaining fit and registered back, David Spence, their third choice scrumhalf, would be added to the bench.

By contrast, Biarritz select an unchanged team which will assuredly be hell bent on revenge.

"They are a very well balanced side," admits Solomons. "They have a strong, physical pack and they've got a lot of strike power in their threequarters, and a very, very good scrumhalf. I think he (Dimitri Yachvili) is going to take over from Galthie at scrumhalf on the French team."

The somewhat conservative nature of Biarritz's approach is unlikely to be repeated on home turf after their bruising approach to the first meeting in Ravenhill.

"I think they thought they would dominate our pack because they've been dominating most of the packs they've played against. But against Northampton, Northampton didn't have Tom Smith or Steve Thompson and without those two they got a bit damaged up front.

"I think they were a little taken aback by what happened up front against our forwards and that may make them think a little bit. We've still got to be prepared for them to take us on up front, but we've also to be prepared for them to play it wide or mix it up. They may open the game up a lot more this time around," admits the Ulster coach.

BIARRITZ: N Brusque; P Bernat-Salles, M Stcherbina, J Isaac, P Bidabe; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Menieu, J-M Gonzalez (capt), D Avril, JP Versailles, D Couzinet, S Betsen, C Milheres, T Lievremont.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, A Larkin, J Bell, S Young; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, J Davidson, W Brosnihan, A Ward (capt), N McMillen. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, M Blair, T McWhirter, K Campbell, J Cunningham, S Coulter.

Referee: Dave Pearson (England).