Ulster v Glasgow, Ravenhill, 7.30: Ulster certainly won't begrudge David Humphreys the opportunity to impress his old London Irish coach tomorrow at Twickenham when he lines out for the Northern Hemisphere - especially considering Clive Woodward decides which outhalves will travel to New Zealand this summer.
Still, that's not much use to Mark McCall's men as they entertain Glasgow tonight. Adam Larkin is a steady replacement, but with just five games left to salvage a disappointing first season, McCall really could do with the man who has done as much for Ulster rugby as Dan Marino did for the Miami Dolphins. Like Marino, when Humphreys finally goes for good, they will have to wait a long time to unearth an equal.
There are some rays of light, though, with the Irish management releasing Kevin Maggs, who will be straining at the leash for action. Andy Ward is also back in the squad to finish off his playing career before the bright lights of Belfast Harlequins consumes his post-playing thoughts.
Neil Doak too returns to the bench, while Paul Shields starts at hooker for the first time since January 16th. More good news comes in the opposition as Glasgow have won just once in 10, a 35-0 drubbing of Connacht, and are devoid of their internationals, including Gordon Bulloch, Dan Parks and Jon Petrie.
Ulster haven't played at Ravenhill since beating Gloucester on January 7th, a fifth successive home victory that should become six this evening, regardless of Humphreys' absence.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, S Best; G Longwell, M McCullough; C Feather (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: R Best, R Moore, T Barker, A Ward, N Doak, P Wallace, S Young.
GLASGOW: C Shaw; R Lamont, G Morrison, S Barrow, G MacLure; C Howarth, G Beveridge; K Tkachuk, S Lawson, A Kelly; A Hall, D Turner; S Swindall, C Mather (capt), P Dearlove. Replacements: F Thomson, B Prescott, J Beardshaw, A Wilson, S Pinder, A Henderson, K Logan.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales).
Previous meetings: 2001 (Celtic League) at Hughenden: Glasgow Rugby 25 Ulster 25; 2002 (Celtic League quarter-final) at Hughenden: Glasgow Rugby 17 Ulster 20; 2003 (Celtic League) at Ravenhill: Ulster 33 Glasgow Rugby 6; 2003 (Celtic Cup semi-final) at Hughenden: Glasgow Rugby 13 Ulster 20; 2004 (Celtic League) at Hughenden: Glasgow Rugby 27 Ulster 25; 2004 (Celtic League) at Hughenden: Glasgow Rugby 34 Ulster 20.
Celtic League formguide (in 2005): Ulster - LLW. Glasgow - LDL.
Leading try-scorers: Ulster - T Bowe 5. Glasgow - K Logan 5.
Leading points scorer: Ulster D Humphreys - 78. C Howarth - 126.
FORECAST: Home win.
