Ulster launch their big guns

Celtic League: Ulster will release their full arsenal on the Celtic League when they host the table-topping Ospreys on Saturday in Ravenhill. David Humphreys' 101st appearance for the province will coincide with Kevin Maggs' competitive home debut against the only side with a 100 per cent record in the competition.

Ulster will also be keen to atone for their recent performance in Ravenhill when they tamely coughed up their first defeat in 21 outings to an under-strength Leinster.

Thus far, Mark McCall's first campaign in charge has been far from a failure as they have won both matches on the road, against Edinburgh and Connacht, and yet, they still need to lay down a marker against a vastly improved Neath-Swansea outfit.

Tyrone Howe is the last Ulster player to be released from the IRFU 10-week, pre-season training regime brought in this season, but McCall was still loath to drop in-form wingers Andrew Maxwell and Tommy Bowe.

New Zealander Paul Steinmetz makes way for Howe on the bench, so Paddy Wallace will be expected to cover centre, as well as outhalf and full back. The coach has also kept faith with the forwards that stood up so well to Connacht last week.

In contrast, Connacht have made five changes to their side, with several of last year's front-line players returning for the trip to Cardiff on Friday.

Mark McHugh is back in the inside-centre slot after sufficiently recovering from a shoulder operation, while Niall O'Brien moves to the right wing with Ted Robinson dropping out of the starting line-up.

John O'Sullivan comes in at number eight for Mick Carroll, while Phil Neville takes over from John Muldoon on the blindside flank in a new-look back row.

There are two further changes in the front five as Dan McFarland starts at loosehead for Adrian Clarke (benched), while Pieter Myburgh pushes Christian Shortt out of the 22.

The raft of alterations suggest coach Michael Bradley intends to continue with the squad rotation policy of last season, but he maintains: "We will move players around but not to the same extent as last year. I have a fair idea of the strengths and weakness of the side so it will be less revolving."

Regarding the recent furore over the 10-week pre-season routine, Bradley said Connacht have profited from not losing players to international duty.

"Connacht has benefited in the last four or five years from the pre-season, with time placed on development and physical conditioning. We are an example of how it should be done."

The game is live on BBC Wales (kick-off 7.35 p.m.). Details of how to get BBC Wales (on Sky Digital) are available on the Connacht rugby website (www.connachtrugby.ie)

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, K Maggs, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, N Doak; S Best, P Shields, R Moore; M Mustchin, M McCullough; A Ward, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, R McCormack, R Frost, C Feather, K Campbell, P Wallace, T Howe.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; N O'Brien, M Mostyn, M McHugh, C McPhillips; P Warwick, T Tierney; D McFarland, B Jackman, P Bracken; P Myburgh, A Farley; P Neville, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, A Clarke, M Carroll, M Swift, E Elwood, C O'Loughlin, T Robinson.