Ulster v Edinburgh : Seven years and two days since the first meeting between Ulster and Edinburgh, a 38-all draw which kickstarted the former's epic European Cup-winning campaign, Mark McCall's side play their first competitive home game of the season tonight. They'll be grateful too that it's under the Friday night lights of Ravenhill rather than ill-fitting Saturdays at the behest of television.Thomond closed
The sides also met in the seasonal opener at Murrayfield a year ago, when Ulster squeezed through, and their most recent meeting at Ravenhill maintained the trend set by that aforementioned clash when they again shared eight tries in a 36-34 win for the home side.
That fifth successive victory over Edinburgh is also part of an eight-match winning run which they take into this latest instalment, after their initial difficulties at Ravenhill a year ago, and mindful that this is their only home tie in their opening four fixtures, they'll be keen to extend that run.
However, Edinburgh come here as leaders of an embryonic table, having followed up their highly creditable win over Llanelli at Stradey Park on the opening weekend with an impressive victory over Connacht last week.
"It's a tough start, with away games against the Dragons and Leinster coming up, but if we can keep our heads above water after the first four rounds we can start to build the kind of momentum we never had last season."
An upbeat Frank Hadden, recently named as the belated successor to Matt Williams as Scottish coach, reflects the confidence in his charges.
"There is no reason why we can't go to Ulster with confidence. It's always tough winning away from home but we've realised we can do it. The confidence is there."
McCall is not surprised by the Gunners' strong start, maintaining that they were arguably the form side in the latter third of last season. They will invariably seek to test Ulster from touchline to touchline, and the Ulster coach admits: "I think the key will be not to let them get on the front foot."
However, Ulster themselves have been boosted by the arrival of Justin Harrison. "He has brought everything we thought he would bring and more," says McCall. "Then you have the return of Justin Fitzpatrick and the increased confidence levels which have come about by having eight players capped on Ireland's tour of Japan.
"It's inevitable really. For our first competitive home game of the season several of our players will be going out on the pitch as internationals for the first time. It gives you a little boost, we still have some wise old heads around and there's a nice atmosphere about the place, but we'll see. We need a decent old start."
ULSTER: P Wallace; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz; A Trimble; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: R Best, B Young, R Frost, C Feather, R Spee, A Larkin, J Topping.
EDINBURGH GUNNERS: F Leonelli; C Paterson, M Di Rollo, R Dewey, S Webster; D Hodge, M Blair; D Hewett, D Hall, C Smith, A Kellock, S Murray, M Mustchin, A Hogg, S Cross. Replacements: A Kelly, A Jacobsen, F Pringle, A Strokosch, R Lawson, P Godman, H Southwell.
Referee: Phil Fear (WRU).
Head-to-heads: ('98-99) (EC) Ulster 38 Edinburgh 38; Edinburgh Gunners 21 Ulster 23. (02-03) (CL) Ulster 18 Edinburgh 19; (03-04) (CL) Edinburgh 3 Ulster 41; (C Cup Final) Edinburgh 21 Ulster 27; (CL) Ulster 37 Edinburgh 0; (04-05) (CL) Edinburgh 16 Ulster 17; Ulster 36 Edinburgh Gunners 34.
Forecast: Ulster to win.
Ravenhill, 7.30pm
Following the vandalism of Thomond Park on Wednesday which severely damaged the pitch, the ground will remain unplayable until October 22nd, writes Gerry Thornley.
All scheduled games for Thomond Park during this period will be moved to alternative venues, which will affect all home games of the tenant clubs Shannon and UL Bohemians, as well as Munster's Celtic League game against Llanelli next Friday night, which will now be moved to Musgrave Park. Their next subsequent game at the venue is the Heineken European Cup tie against Castres on October 29th.
