Rugby: Ulster have made three changes to the side which recorded a morale-boosting win over Neath for Friday night's anticipated sell-out against Munster at Ravenhill. Jonathan Bell returns from injury at inside centre to the exclusion of Shane Stewart, while Matt Sexton and Robbie Kempson, ruled out of last Friday's game by the viral bug which swept through the squad and limited a drained Tony McWhirter to an hour, return to the front-row at the expense of Paul Shields and Simon Best.
"All three did very well," Alan Solomons admitted of his demoted trio. "It's good to have that kind of depth and competition for places."
Yet, in explaining Munster's four-match unbeaten start which puts them in pole position in Pool A, Solomons comments: "They're a very good side and they've got tremendous depth. Nobody in Ireland has the depth Munster have."
Ulster will be buoyed by the memory of a first win in four years over Munster in the last round of interpros before Munster's European Cup final defeat in May.
Ulster : B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; A Larkin, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, M Blair, J Davidson capt, W Brosnihan, T McWhirter, N McMillan. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, P Johns, N Best, K Campbell, S Stewart, S Young.
Munster
Munster will delay naming a squad until today, pending fitness reports on Mick O'Driscoll, Jim Williams and Jason Holland, who all took knocks in the win over Swansea last Friday. They may travel with an expanded squad for their third successive trip north tomorrow (Ulster last visited Cork or Limerick two years ago) and Friday's fixture is followed by away matches against Neath the following weekend and away to English Premiership pace-setters Gloucester a fortnight hence.
The situation regarding Frankie Sheahan's availability is also clouded by his call-up as cover to the Irish squad in light of doubts about Keith Wood's participation for Ireland this weekend. Marcus Horan and Donnacha O'Callaghan return to the Munster fold after providing cover for the Irish squad in Siberia.
Connacht
Connacht make three changes from the team which made it four wins from four in the 18-12 win at home to Newport last Friday for this Saturday's match against Bridgend at the Brewery Field.
Mark McHugh returns from his Siberian odyssey and resumes at full-back at James Norton's expense in an otherwise unchanged backline. Former Wallaby lock Warwick Waugh is ruled out with a bruised shoulder though this is offset by the return of Damien Browne from a nagging back injury for his first start of the campaign.
In the back row, Eric Peters has been drafted in at number eight, with John O'Sullivan switching to openside flanker and Colm Rigney moving to blindside. Michael Swift loses out and is among the replacements. Interestingly, Jerry Flannery retains his place for the third game running ahead of Marnus Uijs. Flanker Johnny O'Connor is ruled out with an ankle injury, while Gavin Duffy and Dermot O'Sullivan are also injured.
Connacht : M McHugh; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt capt, W Munn; E Elwood, C Keane; D McFarland, J Flannery, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, C Rigney, E Peters, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: R McCormack, M Uijs, M Swift, P Neville, E Reddan, S Moore, J Norton.
Leinster
Although nine of their squad are again on international duty this week, Leinster expect to be bolstered by the return of Eric Miller and Victor Costello for what has now become a crunch win-or-bust trip to Galashiels to face Borders on Friday evening after three successive defeats.
"Naivety" and "wrong decision-making" cost them dearly in Cardiff on Saturday according to manager Ken Ging. "We're getting there," he maintains. "We know this is a very important game for us but the team will be up for it and if we make the quarters we'll certainly be a threat."
This week's fixtures
Today
Ulster Senior League: Queen's University v Banbridge, Dub Pavilion (7.30).
Friday
Celtic League: Pool A: Ulster v Munster, Ravenhill (7.35); Edinburgh Rugby v Llanelli, Myreside (7.30); Neath v Ebbw Vale, The Gnoll (7.05). Pool B: Borders v Leinster, Galashiels (7.30).
Under-21 Interprovincial Championship: Semi-final: Munster v Leinster, Thomond Park (6.30).
Saturday
World Cup qualifier: Ireland v Georgia, Lansdowne Road (3.0).
Celtic League: Pool A: Swansea v Caerphilly, St Helens (2.30). Pool B: Pontypridd v Glasgow, Sardis Road (2.30); Newport v Cardiff, Rodney Parade (5.30); Bridgend v Connacht, The Brewery Field (2.30).
Leinster Senior League (12.30): Section A: Dublin University v Barnhall, College Park; Clontarf v Monkstown, Castle Avenue (12.0). Section B: Old Wesley v Bective Rangers, Donnybrook; St Mary's College v Clontarf, Templeville Road. Section C: Lansdowne v DLSP, venue tbc; Old Belvedere v UCD, Anglesea Road. Section D: Blackrock College v Greystones, Stradbrook; Naas v Wanderers, Forenaughts.
Munster Club League (3.0): Clonakilty v Young Munster, Shannonvale; Shannon v Midleton, Coonagh (1.30); Sunday's Well v Garryowen, Musgrave Park; Thomond v Cork Constitution, Fitzgerald Park; UL/Bohemians v Highfield, Thomond Park; Waterpark v Dolphin, Ballinakill.
Ulster Senior League (2.30): Ballymena v Belfast Harlequins, Eaton Park; Ballynahinch v Portadown, Ballymacarn Park; Dungannon v City of Derry, Stevenson Park.
Munster Senior Club: Old Crescent v UCC, Rosbrien (2.0).
Under-21 Interprovincial Championship: Semi-final: Ulster v Connacht, Ravenhill (2.30).
Women's Interprovincial Championship: Ulster v Munster, Dromore (12.30); Connacht v Leinster, The Sportsground (2.30).
Sunday
Connacht Senior League (3.0): Buccaneers v Corinthians, Ericsson Park; Ballina v Galwegians, Heffernan Park.
