Magners League:Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin insists his side is travelling to Edinburgh in a positive frame of mind despite recent poor form jeopardising their participation in the Heineken Cup next season.
The province are now level with Connacht following a win for the latter against Leinster in midweek and will be fourth-ranked Irish team in the Magners League with just one game to go if results don’t got their way this weekend.
That game will be against Connacht at Ravenhill but McLaughlin’s focus is on Murrayfield for now.
"We are all very positive heading to face Edinburgh. We have played them quite a few times this season,” he said today. “The last time at Ravenhill we gained the points. In September, when we faced them in the league, we were narrowly defeated by three points.
“We had a really strong first half, but just couldn't sustain it, and that's been our problem over the last number of games, doing well early on, but just unable to sustain it until the final whistle.
"The players are training hard, and working well together. Everyone knows what is expected of them. Yesterday the IRFU defence coach Les Kiss was up doing a lot of work with us, and our attack is solid.
"So it is just a matter of going out at Murrayfield on Sunday with the attitude that we can gain the victory.”
Jamie Smith’s return to the starting XV means Simon Danielli shifts to the left wing and Nevin Spence drops to the bench.
Niall O'Connor is back at outhalf instead of Ian Humphreys, while in the pack hooker and captain Rory Best returns, with BJ Botha the tighthead prop and Andy Kryicaou named on the bench,
There is a huge boost in the backrow with the news that a “fully fit” Stephen Ferris returns to the blindside where he will partner number eight Robbie Diack and openside Willie Faloon.
Fifth-placed Edinburgh still retain hope securing a play-off place and will not be short of motivation on Sunday. Victory over Ulster, coupled with a defeat for Glasgow Warriors against Leinster tonight, would see them move into fourth.
They will be captained by 23-year-old openside flanker Roddy Grant, who only signed a professional contract last summer. His inclusion is one of four changes, one positional, from the team that started last weekend's away defeat to Newport-Gwent Dragons.
Centre Nick De Luca returns from injury, while scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw gets the nod as Mike Blair moves to the bench.
Ben Cairns moves from centre to fullback in place of Jim Thompson.
Edinburgh's head coach Rob Moffat today paid tribute to Grant's influence this term.
"Roddy has been one of our most consistent players this season. He sets high standards for himself and I believe he will demand that of others," he said. "As a coach you are always looking for leaders, people who are willing to accept responsibility, and Roddy has those characteristics in droves."
Grant added: "We've faced Ulster on three occasions this season so far, as they were in our pool in the Heineken Cup, and they've all been close-fought matches, with a real Titanic battle for possession up front and I believe it will be along similar lines this weekend."
Edinburgh (v Ulster):B Cairns, T Visser, N De Luca, J Houston, M Robertson; P Godman, G Laidlaw; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross; S MacLeod, J Hamilton; A MacDonald, D Callam, R Grant (capt). Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, F McKenzie, S Newlands, M Blair, A Turnbull, J Thompson
Ulster (v Edinburgh):J Smith, A Trimble, D Cave, I Whitten, S Danielli, N O'Connor, P Marshall; T Court, R Best (capt), BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, D Tuohy, S Ferris, W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyricaou, B Young, R Caldwell, TJ Anderson, I Boss, I Humphreys, N Spence