Ulster v Scarlets:IT'S AN unusual requirement but Ulster have to try to get their home record ship shape. They've beaten Ospreys and Connacht both away but in their second outing lost to Edinburgh in Belfast.
The 30-6 win last week against Michael Bradley’s side will generate confidence but the province have beaten Scarlets only once in their last five meetings. A win tonight would probably keep Ulster in the top four.
Hooker Nigel Brady replaces Andy Kyriacou with Ryan Caldwell coming in for the injured Dan Tuohy. Robbie Diack, who was not named on the original squad, starts at number eight with Chris Henry as openside flanker.
In the backs, Andrew Trimble comes in for an injured Simon Danielli, which makes for a backline of Trimble, Darren Cave and Paddy Wallace. Mark McCrea takes Trimble’s place on the bench. Wallace will once again captain the side.
Lions outhalf Stephen Jones plays his first Magners League game of the season for the visitors. Head coach Nigel Davies brings back this influential player, who has recovered from a slight ankle injury, a week before the Scarlets’ opening European Cup game against Brive at Parc y Scarlet.
“He’s massive for us. He has that mental toughness on the field that we need,” said Davies.
Mark Jones and former Ireland flanker Simon Easterby are both rested, while Wales prop Rhys Thomas returns after missing two games with a knee injury.
ULSTER: C Schicofske; T Nagusa, D Dave, P Wallace, A Trimble; I Humphreys, I Boss; T Court, N Brady, BJ Botha, E O’Donoghue, R Caldwell, S Ferris, R Diack, W Faloon. Replacements: A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, T Anderson, P Marshall, I Whitten, M McCrea.
SCARLETS: R Priestland; S Lamont, G maule, J Davies, L Williams; S Jones, M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, R Thomas, V Cooper, L Reed, D Jones, J Edwards, D Lyons (capt).
Referee: P Allan (SRU).
Formguide: Ulster: Ospreys 16 Ulster 20; Ulster 13 Edinburgh 16; Connacht 6 Ulster 30. Scarlets: Warriors 19 Scarlets 11; Scarlets 20 Munster 22; Blues 19 Scarlets 15.
Verdict: Ulster win
