Matt Williams has left little to chance as he looks to keep Ulster's winning streak intact when Connacht visit Ravenhill for their Magners League clash tomorrow night (7.30pm). Captain Rory Best is back in action after his autumn international involvement with Ireland. Blindside flanker Stephen Ferris also returns after an impressive couple of games under Declan Kidney.
Hooker Best is named in the frontrow with props BJ Botha and Justin Fitzpatrick. And lock Ryan Caldwell partners Ed O'Donoghue, with Ferris, David Pollock and Robbie Diack in the backrow.
"We have to have a mentality that this is a must win game. Yes, there is a lot of rugby to be played in the league before the end of the season, but we want to be winning all our games," said Williams, whose tone has been notably bullish since the province's recent wins over Munster, Cardiff A and Portugal.
"Connacht can be very physical and they have surprised a few teams this season, including Leinster, so we cannot assume that we are going to get things all our own way.
"The breakdown will prove crucial and I think if it is anyway dry we must get quick ball up front and get our backs away. It is important we concentrate on ourselves and get the team gelling together as it did in the win against Munster."
Paddy Wallace joins Darren Cave in the centre, while Fijian Timoci Nagusa and Mark McCrea are named on the wings.
Ian Humphreys and Cillian Willis, who worked well against Munster in October, form the halfback duo.
In the absence of injured skipper John Muldoon, fullback Gavin Duffy will captain Connacht for the first time, while centre Keith Matthews will make his first start since September.
The latter was sidelined by a calf injury sustained against Glasgow but is back to partner Mel Deane.
Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy form the halfback partnership, while Fionn Carr and Troy Nathan are on the wings.
Tim Donnelly, another long term absentee, is recalled to the bench as cover for Keatley.
Ulster: B Cunningham; T Nagusa, D Cave, P Wallace, M McCrea; I Humphreys, C Willis; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), B Botha; E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell; S Ferris, D Pollock, R Diack. Replacements: N Brady, T Court, M McCullough, K Dawson, I Boss, P Steinmetz, S Danielli
Connacht: G Duffy (c); F Carr, M Deane, K Matthews, T Nathan; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, A Farley; R Ofisa, J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, A Browne, M Swift, K Campbell, T Donnelly, J Hearty.
