Ulster v Ospreys Ravenhill, 7.10Eight Ulster players remain with the Ireland squad so Mark McCall had to dip deep into his reserves to confirm a team for tonight's Celtic League tussle.
Andrew Maxwell comes in on the wing with a new halfback pairing in Paddy Wallace and a fit-again Isaac Boss.
Nigel Brady and Bryan Young are introduced into the frontrow; former underage international Ryan Caldwell will partner Ulster's captain for the evening, Justin Harrison, in the secondrow; and New Zealander Campbell Feather takes over from Neil Best at blindside flanker. Several young players make bench duty, including Declan Fitzpatrick, Henry Head and Stephen Ferris.
The Ospreys will be without Damian Karauna (shoulder), Stefan Terblanche (thigh), Andy Lloyd (head), David Bishop (kneecap), Ryan Jones (collarbone) and Gavin Henson (groin) as well as a further seven - Duncan Jones, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Brent Cockbain, Jonathan Thomas, Shane Williams and Sonny Parker - on Welsh call-up.
Coach Lyn Jones remains upbeat. "Last year proved to be a successful season for us against Ulster, with victories at both St Helen's and Ravenhill, and I have no doubt they will be going 100 per cent to make amends.
"To date they are one of the form teams in the Celtic League and they have shown up well in the early rounds of the Heineken Cup . . . our players will have to be at the top of their game."
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, A Maxwell; P Wallace, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, B Young; J Harrison (capt), R Caldwell; C Feather, N McMillan, R Wilson. Replacements: D Fitzpatrick, R Moore, H Head, S Ferris, R Spee, A Larkin, J Bell.
OSPREYS (from): A Cashmore, J Vaughton, R Mustoe, A Bishop, L Davies, A Brew, M Jones, S Connor, R Rees, J Spice, C Griffiths, P James, R Hibbard, B Williams (capt), A Millward, I Evans, A Newman, L Bateman, R Pugh, L Beach, S Tandy, J Bater.
Referee: Iain Heard (SRU).
Previous Meetings: September 2003 (CL) at The Gnoll, Ospreys 41 Ulster 30; February 2004 (CL) at Ravenhill, Ulster 31 Ospreys 19; September 2004 (CL) at Ravenhill, Ulster 24 Ospreys 37; January 2005 (CL) at St Helen's, Ospreys 22 Ulster 21; April 2005 (CC) at St Helen's, Ospreys 23 Ulster 16.
Leading points scorers: Ulster - David Humphreys 69. Ospreys - Matthew Jones 31.
Leading try scorers: Ulster - Neil Best 4. Ospreys - Barry Williams, Andrew Bishop 2 each.
Verdict: Ulster to win.
