Ulster face a tall order

RUGBY/EUROPEAN CUP: Defeat, albeit a narrow one, against Wasps (36-32) last weekend has dealt a heavy blow to Ulster's chances of progressing to the Heineken European Cup quarter-finals ahead of tonight's game against Treviso at Ravenhill.

Coach Alan Solomons' charges not only require a victory but one replete with a bucket full of tries as they try and sneak qualification.

Ulster have managed just nine tries in five games, compared with free scoring competitors Llanelli (22), Castres (17) and Cardiff (16). At Ravenhill tonight it is reasonable to expect that the home side won't opt to kick at goal from penalty opportunities.

Some good news in the quest for tries is that outhalf David Humphreys, who retired injured against Wasps, passed a fitness test yesterday afternoon and was confirmed in the team.

Ulster will need Humphreys to be at his inspirational best and ironically not with the sort of placekicking accuracy that has earned him 75 points (it included a tournament record 37 against Wasps at Ravenhill) in the competition to date.

In the pursuit of tries, Solomons has promoted the pacy and elusive Australian Ryan Constable to centre.

The greater potency that he provides in possession should enhance the home side's prospects.

Obviously Ulster can ill afford to throw the ball around willy nilly and will have to produce a structured and disciplined display. The presence of their European Cup hero Simon Mason at full back for the Italian side guarantees that any indiscretions will be punished.

Mason left Stade Francais during the summer for Treviso and has done remarkably well to lead the tournament scoring statistics with 83 points, playing on a team that has won one match.

During that run Treviso have managed just two tries, one from right wing Massimiliano Perziano and the other from former London Irish and Harlequins scrumhalf Peter Richards who starts on the bench tonight.

The Italians are no patsies, fielding a side of 14 internationals (centre Stewart Magorian is the only non-capped player) that includes players of the calibre of the Dallan brothers, Manuel and Denis, hooker Alessandro Moscardi, flanker Mauro Bergamasco and number eight Carlo Checchinato.

Once again the onus will be on the Ulster pack to lay the foundation for victory, suck in the defenders and allow players like Constable, Tyrone Howe and Paddy Wallace to plunder from the open spaces.

Patience, composure and concentration will be key attributes tonight. Ulster will need to course their opponents remorselessly for 80 minutes: they will win but the try deficit may be insurmountable.

ULSTER: P Wallace; S Coulter, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best; P Johns, G Longwell; T McWhirter, R Nelson, A Ward (capt).

BENETTON TREVISO: S Mason; M Perziano, M Dallan, S Magorian, D Dallan; F Mazzariol, M Mazzantini; G Falvia, A Moscardi, F Properzi; W Visser, A Gritti; F Ongaro, C Checchinato.

Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales).

Previous meetings (EC 2001-2002): Benetton Treviso 28 Ulster 33.

Current formguide (EC 2001-2002): Ulster - beat Benneton Treviso (a) 28-33; beat Wasps (h) 42-19; lost v Stade Francais (a) 11-40; beat Stade Francais (h) 19-16; lost Wasps (a) 32-36. Benetton Treviso - lost v Ulster (h) 28-33; lost v Stade Francais (a) 9-42; lost v Wasps (a) 24-29; beat Wasps (h) 32-17; lost v Stade Francais (h) 6-59.

Leading point scorers: Ulster - David Humphreys 75. Benetton Treviso - Simon Mason 83.

Leading try scorers: Ulster - Andy Ward, David Humphreys, Tyrone Howe 2 each. Benneton Treviso - Massimiliano Perziano, Peter Richards 1 each.

Forecast: Ulster to win.