Rugby news: Struggling Ulster coach Matt Williams has made sweeping changes ahead of tomorrow night's Magners League encounter with Edinburgh at Ravenhill where they go in search of their first league win.
The Australian has made eight changes in personnel changes and two positional changes from the side that was trounced 43-0 by the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium last weekend.
Tom Court, Ed O'Donoghue, Stephen Ferris and Paul Steinmetz are all promoted from the bench, while Ulster captain Rory Best and backrower David Pollock both return from injury for this must win game.
Darren Cave and Cillian Willis are given the nod ahead of Rob Dewey and Paul Marshall who have both been dropped.
"The changes I have made are all based on performance, apart from Kieron Dawson," said Williams. "Kieron was exceptional last week and has been our best player lately, he is on the bench only because we are giving him a rest from the starting line up this week."
"It's great to have Paul Steinmetz back to full fitness, he had an operation during the summer and we are so pleased to finally get him back on the pitch. I thought Paul played well against the Ospreys and provided quality leadership on the pitch."
"Darren Cave is back in the team, he is very strong defensively. We tried a different centre partnership against the Ospreys and it didn't work, so we are going to see if Cave and Steinmetz will work tomorrow night."
"Timoci needs a break, he has been starting in every game and I want to give him a rest on the bench" added the coach.
Edinburgh at home may look on paper as opposition that Ulster can overcome to record their first win but Williams is taking nothing for granted.
"Edinburgh are a very good side, Andy Robinson is a world class coach and their defence has improved enormously under his direction. They had a great win over the Scarlets a few weeks ago and played some high quality rugby against the Dragons at the weekend. They know our form has been poor of late and will be coming over here looking for a win."
Williams remains optimistic that Ulster can turn the corner, starting with a win in Belfast tomorrow
"The team are all really looking forward to the game tomorrow night," he said "We want to make amends for what happened in Swansea. We all know our performance was below standard and are looking forward to putting things right."
"The team really need their supporters over the next few months. They are going through a hard time and need the Ulster supporters to get behind them and will them to a win. I would love to see that Ulster spirit in the support throughout the province."
Elsewhere Connacht coach Michael Bradley welcomes back Keith Matthews and Gavin Duffy to his squad for the visit of Leinster to Galway on Sunday night.
Both centres have recovered from the injuries sustained against Glasgow and are included in the province's 22-man squad.
Also back is Troy Nathan but Bradley must plan without first-choice outhalf Andy Dunne. The former Bath and Harlequins man tweaked a hamstring during last weekend's hammering at the hands of Cardiff.
Ian Keatley is due to cover in Dunne's absence.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika named his squad yesterday afternoon, indicating he will take the opportunity to give a number of fringe players the opportunity to impress ahead of the European Cup campaign.
Both coaches will finalise their selections at lunchtime tomorrow.
Ulster team: B Cunningham; C Schifcofske, D Cave, P Steinmetz, A Trimble; N O'Connor, C Willis; T Court, R Best (C), BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, S Ferris, D Pollock, R Diack
Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, C Del Fava, K Dawson/M McCullough, I Boss, I Humphreys, T Nagusa
Connacht squad: L Bibo, A Browne, K Campbell, F Carr, S Cronin, G Duffy, A Farley, J Hearty, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, M McCarthy, R Morris, C Muldoon, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, J O'Connor, C Rigney, M Roberts, M Swift, B Wilkinson.
