Ulster's chance to revive season

European Cup Preview: Andy Ward having been declared fit, no doubt the Ulster captain and his side will be striving to make their annual declaration of intent when Friday nights in the Heineken European Cup return to Ravenhill tonight.

All previous hiccups at the venue this season can be put aside. This is it, their chance of redemption and of reviving their season. In that context, it is simply a massive game for Mark McCall's hitherto misfiring team.

The pressure is only marginally more intense on them than their visitors Cardiff, given the need to acquire points in advance of clashes with the heavyweight duo in this pool, Gloucester and Stade Francais. However, as those upcoming games are away for Ulster, their need is perhaps the greater.

They could either fold under the pressure, or be inspired by it, which is why this season's more youthful, indigenous crop need all experienced hands on deck. Cue Ward, who with David Humphreys, Tyrone Howe and Gary Longwell, is one of the four survivors from the 1999 triumph.

Whether a critical factor or not, the torn bicep which sidelined Ward at the half-way point of their game against the Ospreys has coincided with a run of three consecutive defeats. His presence, along with the return to European action, ought to be a timely fillip.

"Of course it is," agreed McCall yesterday. "He's been the talisman of the team for the last three or four years, especially on these big European nights. He's an inspirational figure for the players and for the crowd. He's a big game player and it's a psychological lift for us as much as anything else."

Further good news for McCall, whilst also improving his recently limited back-row options given long-term injuries to Neil McMillan and Matt Mustchin, is the return of Roger Wilson, albeit to the bench after missing their defeat in Glasgow and training this week.

The return of Ward is the only change to the starting line-up, which means European debuts for the talented Tommy Bowe and young hooker Nigel Brady, and McCall is clearly not resorting to panic measures. He also conveyed a relatively relaxed air yesterday in the light of their poor Celtic League form, joking: "I always said this was our number one competition."

"Of course it's a big game," he admitted on a more earnest note. "Given what's happened we need a win of any description, and all the more so as we have Gloucester and Stade on the road in our next two games. If we could win this game, then we could travel to Gloucester with less pressure on us, as no one would be giving us a chance there."

On the face of it, Cardiff first up at home would appear a handpicked opener. The mercurial side from the Welsh capital can be a threat to anyone at home but their travel sickness has, if anything, shown signs of deteriorating this season. It's been almost four years and 11 defeats since their last away win in Europe, and they've failed to win any of their last eight Celtic League games on the road.

Even their sole draw, 9-9 away to an understrength Leinster, was a poor effort, since when they've conceded 123 points and a dozen tries in hammerings at the Ospreys, Edinburgh and Munster. Yet they pushed Leinster to the wire in Dublin last season, as they did Sale and Biarritz.

You look at their teamsheet and squad, and you can only deduce they are underachieving, in part because of a failure to hit on a settled 10-12-13 axis, and likewise one win could kickstart their campaign.

"We watched their game against Munster and to be honest I thought the scoreline flattered Munster," commented McCall, pointing to Cardiff's strong scrum as well as the ball-carrying of dynamic USA Eagles number eight Kort Schubert.

McCall has pinpointed defence as the key area for improvement tonight.

"We know we haven't done well and we know there's a lot of despondency out there in the streets of Belfast. The public demand results and that's fair enough. But I know that we have the players to turn it around."

They need to start tonight.

ULSTER RUGBY: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, K Campbell; R McCormack, N Brady, N Best, G Longwell, M McCullough, A Ward (capt), N Best, C Feather. Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, R Frost, R Wilson, N Doak, P Wallace, J Bell.

CARDIFF BLUES: C Morgan; N Walne, R Williams, T Shanklin, J Vaughton; L Thomas, D Dewdney; G Jenkins, G Williams, M Jones, C Quinnell, D Jones, N Thomas, M Williams (capt), K Schubert. Replacements: A Lewis, R Thomas, R Sidoli, N Budgett, R Smith, N MacLeod, S James.

Referee: J Jutge (France)

Previous meetings: 1995-96: Cardiff 46 Ulster 6. 2000-01: Ulster 32 Cardiff 23; Cardiff 42 Ulster 16. 2002-03: Ulster 25 Cardiff 6; Cardiff 21 Ulster 33.

Odds (Paddy Power): 4/9 Ulster, 20/1 Draw, 13/8 Cardiff. Handicap betting (Cardiff +6pts) 10/11 Ulster, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Cardiff.

Forecast: Ulster to win.

Also playing: Pool 3 - Llanelli Scarlets v Toulouse (7.30), Sky Sports; Pool 5 Perpignan v Edinburgh Rugby (8.30), delayed transmission on Sky Sports.