Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has named a virtually unchanged starting line-up for Friday’s Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash with Bath at Ravenhill (kick-off 7.30pm).
The only change from the team that started last week’s win over the Scarlets is in the pack, and sees the Irish-qualified Andy Kyriacou come in at hooker for Nigel Brady.
Grand Slam winner Paddy Wallace will once again captain his province in the absence of the injured Rory Best.
As per Heineken Cup rules, the replacements bench includes a third prop.
Commenting on what he is expecting on Friday night, Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin said: “We have got to raise our performance. You have to remember that in the Heineken Cup all of the teams are upping their game, aiming to play better and really wanting to get results.
“So it’s an opportunity for us to see exactly how far we have travelled.
“You look at the tournament and the teams you are coming up against and it’s obvious it is a ferocious competition – there’s not one bad team in it. All of the games are going to be tough.
“It’s also seen as being just one step below international rugby, so Friday night is a great opportunity for our players to go out and show just how capable they are and how far they have come.
“And it’s good for us as a management team to see them play at that level; it helps us gauge how far they have progressed and where they still have to go.
“We’re very keen to show that we can play good rugby, though in doing that we also have to be aware of the quality of the opposition and the need to play accordingly.”
ULSTER (v Bath): Clinton Schifcofske; Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace (capt), Andrew Trimble; Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Tom Court, Andy Kyriacou, BJ Botha, Ed O’Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McComb, Chris Henry, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli.
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