Celtic League/Ulster v Border Reivers: Ulster coach Mark McCall is a victim of his side's success. For tonight's game at Ravenhill he must plan without six players who are in the national squad for this month's Test series, starting with the game against South Africa at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week.
Bryn Cunningham's injury is offset by the return to fitness of Australian Mark Bartholomeusz, who is named at fullback. Scott Young comes in on the right wing, Kevin Maggs partners Paul Steinmetz in the centre and Kieran Campbell starts at scrumhalf.
Paul Shields and Simon Best are introduced to the frontrow, while Tim Barker will partner Justin Harrison in the secondrow, with Matt McCullough on the bench after spending the week at the Irish squad training session. Ireland under-21 scrumhalf Paul Marshall is named on the bench alongside prop Declan Fitzpatrick and wing Paul McKenzie, who also represented the national side at that level.
Academy prop Ryan Grant will make his first start for the Border Reivers. Coach Steve Bates will make a late fitness decision on whether Garry Law or Nick de Luca plays in the centre.
Even allowing for the changes, Ulster should still have that little bit too much for the visitors.
ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; S Young, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best; J Harrison, T Barker; S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, M McCullough, N McMillan, P Marshall, A Larkin, P McKenzie.
BORDER REIVERS: C MacRae; S Danielli, B MacDougall, G Law/N De Luca, B Daniel; S Jones, C Cusiter (capt); R Grant, S Scott, B Douglas; C Hamilton, J Dalziel; S Gray, A Miller, R Beattie. Replacements: S Crombie, E Kalman, R Vernon, S Newlands, B McKerchar, G Townsend, G Law/N De Luca.
Referee: N Owens (Wales).
Recent meetings - (November 2004) At Netherdale: Ulster 20 Borders 19. (March 2005) At Ravenhill: Ulster 13 Borders 13. (October 2005) At Netherdale: Ulster 27 Borders 0. (May 2005) At Ravenhill: Ulster 63 Borders 17.
Leading points scorers: Ulster - David Humphreys 95. Borders - Calum McRae 35.
Leading try scorers: Ulster - Bryn Cunningham 4. Borders - No player scored more than one try.
Verdict: Ulster to win.
