AS THE Ulster team once again adjust to the booing that had become such a disfiguring part of their disappointing season last year, coach Matt Williams prepares to face an Ospreys side likely to have Gavin Henson and the dynamic winger Shane Williams back after injury.
Neither of the Welsh internationals lined out for the Ospreys against Leinster last Friday. But both were named in the squad that will face Ulster in the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
Henson returns after surgery in April and Williams comes into the squad following a shorter spell on the sidelines with a foot injury.
Ulster face into the game hoping to break their run of three ducks since the Magners League began and, as frustration mounts over their narrow defeats (a combined total of 10 points over the three matches), the province are desperately hoping not to take another step toward an unprecedented five-game losing streak in this competition.
The Ospreys have lost just once at home since last November and are eager to bounce back from their first loss of the season, in Dublin. Their home record is as strong as Ulster's used to be at Ravenhill Road and Williams's side have not beaten Ospreys in Wales since May 2006.
For Ulster, discipline and avoiding unforced mistakes are the priorities.
"We continually shot ourselves in the foot," said the assistant coach Steve Williams. "We need to eliminate our basic errors. They were similar to the week before, where we did everything bar win the game. In the last two games we haven't been well beaten; it has been one kick or dropped pass from winning both the games.
"The players are disappointed; they have lost two games that they know they should have won. They can't afford to dwell on the games. We have to learn from our mistakes. We can't let the team react to people outside the team.
"We can't be euphoric when we win and we can't be depressed when we lose. You can't react like that in professional sport."
There is some doubt, because of illness, about the Ospreys fullback, Lee Byrne, while the Welsh are also playing with their third-choice number nine as their Welsh international Mike Phillips and new recruit Jamie Nutbrown are long-term casualties.
Ospreys are even considering dipping into the market again for a scrumhalf, one who is eligible to play in the Heineken Cup.
"It is a fantastic stadium to play in and a tough place to play," added Williams. "All our players are looking forward to it. We know we have only been a dropped pass or missed kick away from being further up the table. We see the Ospreys game as our chance."
In Munster, Ian Dowling will be available for selection for their game against Leinster on Sunday in the RDS. The winger was replaced by Barry Murphy after 28 minutes last weekend when he took a knock to the shoulder but has declared himself fit for selection. An injury-free Munster squad will be announced today.
Connacht will be encouraged by the return from injury of winger Mike Roberts and lock Michael Swift for their meeting on Friday in the Arms Park with Cardiff Blues (kick-off 7.05pm).
Roberts will start on the left wing, while Swift returns to the side having missed last week's 15-8 win over Glasgow. He will partner Andrew Browne.
The Ireland flanker Johnny O'Connor, who was introduced off the bench against Glasgow, will start in the back row.
Gavin Duffy, Keith Matthews and Ray Ofisa have been ruled out of consideration by injury.
"It gives the guys who did not start last week a chance to put down a marker ahead of the European Challenge campaign," said Connacht coach Michael Bradley.
CONNACHT:F Carr; A Wynne, J Hearty, M Deane, M Roberts; A Dunne, F Murphy; J Lyne, A Flavin, R Morris; A Browne, M Swift; J Muldoon, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: S Cronin, R Loughney, A Farley, M McCarthy, K Campbell, I Keatley, L Bibo.
OSPREYS (from):L Byrne, T Bowe, S Williams, N Walker, A Bishop, G Henson, J Hook, D Biggar, R Wells, R Webb, D Jones, P James, A Jones, H Bennett, R Hibbard, I Gough, A Lloyd, Alun Wyn Jones, I Evans, J Thomas, T Smith, R Jones, M Holah.
ULSTER:(TBC).
