Celtic League/ Connacht v Ulster Sportsground 7.30pm:In normal times, this meeting would not be quite as fraught for Ulster as it is this evening.
Although the province will have taken something away from their bonus-point European Cup defeat to Bourgoin last week, the side is limping through this season waiting for a top-line coach to arrive to replace the interim man, Steve Williams. The former Welsh lock has the unenviable task of keeping body and soul intact around Ravenhill.
For Ulster, it is a case of trying to keep their heads while everyone else around is losing theirs. That, at least, is the way Williams has seen it and maybe that is why he has stuck with the bold decision to keep with the same bunch that made some headway out of the mire in Bourgoin last week. In keeping the faith - an Ulster tradition - he will expect the players to respond to what is essentially an effort to impart some loyalty and confidence.
He had, after all, dropped former Australian secondrow, Justin Harrison, Scottish centre, Rob Dewey and Ulster stalwart, Bryn Cunningham, in an effort to bring stability.
"To be honest with you, nobody wants it any more than the guys who are here," said Williams. "Everyone is hurting and wants to win so much. There is so much inside us and if you are in this business, you can't get caught up in external factors. It has to come from within."
Connacht will sense the frailty, but as has been said all this week, the incentive for Ulster to start climbing the league table is immense. The blazers around Ravenhill would find it hard to contemplate a European Cup next year without the inclusion of the first Irish team to have won the trophy.
Taking the third Irish position is an imperative for Ulster.
But Connacht, as always, will play with commitment and passion in the Sportsground, their third home match in succession there. The 78-5 record win in the Challenge Cup over El Salvador last week will also help confidence, although coach Michael Bradley has made three changes for Ulster's visit.
Irish flanker Johnny O'Connor, Mel Deane and Conor McPhillips have been recalled to the side for the first time since Connacht lost to Brive two weeks ago.
Other encouraging news is that Andy Dunne has been named on the bench following his recovery from knee surgery and could potentially make his competitive debut for Connacht in tonight's game.
"It is a big game for us and everyone is looking forward to it, not least as there should be a great atmosphere in the Sportsground on Friday night," said Bradley.
Both sides have played six league matches, but Connacht, with seven points, are one ahead of Ulster. Connacht have also won just one of their last 11 matches in the Magners Celtic League, a 22-7 win over Newport Gwent Dragons in Galway on September 21st and have beaten Ulster just twice in their last seven meetings, both of those matches played in Galway.
Ulster, though, are without a win in any competition since a 17-16 victory over Ospreys at Ravenhill on September 21st and have won just once on the road since January, a 33-9 win at the now defunct Border Reivers back in April.
However, if the performance levels in the match against Bourgoin last week was the beginning of something new for Ulster captain Rory Best's team, then Connacht may very well feel it this week.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; A Wynne, D Riordan, M Deane, O Treviranus; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley (C); M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: J Merrigan, R Loughney, A Browne, R Ofisa, C O'Loughlin, A Dunne, D Yapp.
ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, S Danielli; P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (Capt), B Young, M McCullough, C Del Fava, N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, D Pollock, K Campbell, N O'Connor, R Dewey.
Referee: Alain Rolland(IRFU).
Verdict: Ulster.
