ULSTER: UIlster, battling with Swansea and Llanelli for the final Pool A quarter-final slot, travel to Caerphilly on Saturday with a much needed win in mind and a number of changes to the side that defeated Munster 26-17 at Ravenhill Road last week.
As with the rest of the provinces, Ulster have their international players back and, to that end, David Humphreys reclaims his position at outhalf with Adam Larkin returning to the bench.
Gary Longwell also returns to the second row, squeezing out Mark Blair, while Scott Young makes his first start for Ulster on the right wing, having come on for James Topping just before half-time in the Munster game. Topping was not considered because of a leg injury.
Coach Alan Solomons also declared his faith in Neil Best, who was yesterday awarded a full-time Ulster contract for the 2002-03 season. Best, who came on as a replacement back row in Ulster's win last Friday, was given a development contract in March, but with the recent retirement of Rob Brink from professional rugby he has moved into the senior squad.
"Neil has had quite a bit of game time for us so far this season and every time he has come onto the pitch he has made an impact. With Rob's retirement, a vacancy had arisen within the squad and I had absolutely no hesitation in moving him up from a development contract to a senior contract. He's a young player of tremendous talent and ability," said the Ulster coach.
ULSTER (v Caerphilly): B Cunningham; S Young, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys; N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, J Davidson (capt), W Brosnihan, N McMillan, T McWhirter. Replacements: S Best; P Shields; M Blair; N Best; K Campbell; A Larkin; S Stewart.
CONNACHT: Connacht, the only side in the Celtic League with a 100 per cent record after five games, have made seven changes from the side that defeated Bridgend. They face Pontypridd in Saturday's top of the table meeting at the Galway Sportsground.
Captain Tim Allnutt will be out for some time after suffering cruciate ligament damage against Bridgend. He will remain as Connacht captain for the season, with two vice-captains, Shane Moore and Warwick Waugh, alternating the skipper's role during matches.
Moore comes into the side at outside centre in Allnutt's place, while Dermot O'Sullivan is named at inside centre for the injured Darren Yapp. The third change in the backline is at scrumhalf with Eoin Reddan returning for the injured Chris Keane.
There are four changes up front. Waugh returns from injury for Damian Browne in the second row, while Michael Swift is named at blindside flanker with John O'Sullivan moving to number eight in place of Eric Peters. Colm Rigney moves to openside.
Steph Nel makes two front-row changes. Marnus Uijs comes in as hooker for Jerry Flannery and Ronan McCormack is named at tighthead in place of Peter Bracken.
Connacht are still without full back Gavin Duffy and flanker Johnny O'Connor, who are recovering from injury.
CONNACHT (v Pontypridd): M McHugh; T Robinson, D O'Sullivan, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland, M Uijs, R McCormack; W Waugh, R Frost; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, C Rigney. Replacements: P Bracken, J Flannery, D Browne, E Peters, M Walls, M McPhail, J Norton.
LEINSTER: Leinster will not decide on their team to face Newport at Donnybrook until today, but they need a miraculous sequence of results to put them in contention for the quarter-finals. They are sixth in pool B with just one win from five.
Andy Dunne sustained a shoulder injury during the reigning champions 23-18 defeat by Borders last week, so Matt Williams likely to move Christian Warner into the outhalf position.
MUNSTER: Munster will hold off until today to make any announcements and, like Leinster, have a significant number of players coming back in after the international series of World Cup matches.
