Presumably the phone calls were made during the week to the provincial coaches, the result of which is Paddy Jackson will be the only Ireland player who started the Scotland match to be released back to his province.

Iain Henderson, who came on as a second-half replacement and did well, is also included tonight.

Specifically, Jackson is to kick under pressure and although Declan Kidney is risking injury to his first-choice outhalf, Jackson’s confidence is in need of rebuilding.

With Ruan Pienaar beside him and capable of punts from 15 metres farther out, the likelihood is the South African will occasionally come into play against the Italian side, who won once before in Belfast, in 2011 (12-23).

Unusual situation

It’s an unusual situation but one that might just work for the 21-year-old, so long as Ulster don’t hand him his first kick 40 metres out and two metres from the touchline.

In a sense it’s a crash course for Jackson to find form, as it will be for John Afoa, who moves from the tighthead side of the scrum to the loosehead position for the first time in his Ulster career.

That too is timely as Declan Fitzpatrick scrums down on the anchor side in another cameo role that will generate much interest in Ravenhill.

Coach Mark Anscombe has made seven changes to the team that lost to Glasgow last Friday. Darren Cave is also named in the backline, while Henderson, Rob Herring, Fitzpatrick, Lewis Stevenson and Mike McComish return to the pack.

Andrew Trimble moves from outside centre to his more familiar position on the right wing, and Michael Allen switches flanks and will start on the left.

“It is good to give the guys who are on the periphery of the international team some game time,” said Anscombe.

“We welcome them back and with the experience that they bring, they will only strengthen our side.”

Treviso, who have a few of their Italian players back, have won away just once this season, against Edinburgh in October, and it’s difficult to look past a home win.