Ospreys next game is Leinster in the Heineken Cup, while Ulster's first dip into Europe brings Leicester Tigers. There are more than just points riding on tonight's outcome in Liberty Stadium.
Ulster will welcome Andrew Trimble's impeccable timing following surgery on his finger three weeks ago as he comes onto the right wing just as Tommy Bowe fails to recover from a dead leg sustained last week in Ulster's win over Treviso in Ravenhill.
In all Mark Anscombe, has made four changes with captain Johann Muller also returning and Declan Fitzpatrick in at tighthead, having recovered from the injury that he picked up against Connacht in Galway. Nick Williams, who just signed a new two-year deal, starts at number eight hoping to add heavily to the Ulster yardage for breaking the gain line.
People are used to cooing at the Leinster back line but Anscombe's high numbers look as good as anything on offer, Craig Gilroy in at fullback with Jared Payne and Luke Marshall the centre pairing.
High tempo
Busy Paul Marshall at scrumhalf is also capable of making a match tick to his high tempo beat, while international centre, Stuart Olding is on the bench and is in line to make his first appearance of the season.
Where Olding comes in will make for interesting speculation about next week's Heineken Cup team. Soon to be Irish qualified Payne also merits a long critical look in Brian O'Driscoll's position.
Unbeaten side
Ulster beat the Ospreys at the Liberty stadium last year, but the Welsh region have won their last 10 home games and are one of two unbeaten sides this season. Ospreys motivational factor today is that if they lose to this Irish team, what are their chances next week with the other Irish team, Leinster that beat Ulster to the silverware in May.
But there’s little chance of Osprey’s worrying and while they have made all the correct, respectful noises about Ulster’s visit, they’ve reason to feel their run in to the first round of the European Cup will be speed bump free. “There’s plenty of room for improvement in a few areas of our game and we are going into a tough run of fixtures where we are going to have to move up several gears if we are going to keep building momentum,” said coach Steve Tandy.
“Ulster on Friday night is as difficult as it gets. They’ve got a strong squad with world class players in there, Lions, All Blacks and Springboks . . . they can beat anyone.”
Ulster’s concern is that they will perform the way they did in the first half against Connacht and if they do they’ll lose. But tonight’s side has a sharper look.
This is Anscombe's strongest lineup so far and if Ulster can add up to the sum of their parts theirs will be a satisfying visit.
OSPREYS: R Fussell; J Hassler, A Bishop, A Beck, E Walker; D Biggar, T Tebaldi; R Bevington, R Hibbard, A Jones, A Wyn Jones, I Evans, T Ardron, J Tipuric, J Bearman. Replacements: Scott Baldwin, D Jones, A Jarvis, J King, S Lewis, T Habberfield, M Morgan, B John.
Ulster: C Gilroy; A Trimble, J Payne, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, D Fitzpatrick J Muller (Captain), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams. Replacements: R Herring, C Black, B Ross, I Henderson, R Wilson, M Heaney, S Olding, D Cave.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
Verdict: Ulster.
