Respective league positions combined with differing title ambitions sees Mark McCall name a full strength team while his Munster counterpart Declan Kidney has opted to rest his Irish internationals for tomorrow night's Magners Celtic League clash at Ravenhill.
After a bruising Triple Crown winning campaign in the Six Nations, it appears the majority of Munster's Ireland contingent are being rested for more significant conquests to come by way of the European Cup. That, coupled with the fact that Munster are currently eighth in the standings and out of contention for this season's competition.
There is no place in the starting XV either for new signing Brian Carney, who looks set to start from the bench in Belfast.
As for the Ulster camp, there is greater buoyancy towards their title aspirations as they are just one point behind league leaders Leinster on 45 points but have played one more game than their provincial rivals.
McCall has included several combinations for the backline due to injury concerns over Ulster's talisman, David Humphreys. The veteran will undergo a late fitness test tomorrow afternoon while McCall will finalise his starting line-up one hour before kick-off (7.30pm).
News also emerged that Humphreys extended his Ulster contract for one more year, largely due to the fact his understudy Paddy Wallace will be on Ireland duty at the World Cup in France later this year. That said, the 35-year-old insisted this will be his last contract before retiring.
Another injury concern is Simon Best who will also undergo a late fitness test with Declan Fitzpatrick on standby to come onto the replacements bench if necessary.
Ireland's Isaac Boss returns from injury and will start at scrum half, while Ryan Caldwell earns his first Ulster start this season. David Pollock, who captained the Ireland U-20s side to an unprecedented Grand Slam and Six Nations Championship double, is also named on the bench.
Ulster: 15 - Bryn Cunningham; 14 - Tommy Bowe; 13 - Paul Steinmetz / Andrew Trimble; 12 - Paddy Wallace / Paul Steinmetz; 11 - Paul McKenzie / Andrew Trimble; 10 - David Humphreys / Paddy Wallace; 9 - Isaac Boss; 1 - Justin Fitzpatrick; 2 - Rory Best; 3 - Bryan Young; 4 - Justin Harrison (Captain); 5 - Ryan Caldwell; 6 - Stephen Ferris; 7 - Kieron Dawson; 8 - Roger Wilson; Replacements: 16 - Paul Shields; 17 - Simon Best / Declan Fitzpatrick; 18 - Tim Barker 19 - David Pollock ; 20 - Kieran Campbell; 21 - Paul McKenzie / AN Other; 22 - Andrew Maxwell
Munster: 1 - Eugene McGovern, 2 - Jerry Flannery, 3 - Tony Buckley, 4 - Donnacha Ryan, 5 - Chris Wyatt, 6 - Alan Quinlan, 7 - Tim McGann, 8 - John O'Sullivan, 9 - Tomas O'Leary, 10 - Eoghan Hickey, 11 - Ian Dowling, 12 - Trevor Halstead, 13 - Lifeimi Mafi, 14 - Barry Murphy, 15 - Christian Cullen. Replacements: 16 - Tim Ryan, 17 - Frankie Sheahan, 18 - Mark Melbourne, 19 - AN Other, 20 - Brian O'Meara, 21 - Jeremy Manning, 22 Brian Carney or Keith Earls.
