Glasgow unlikely to foil Ulster's agenda

Glasgow v Ulster Hugheden: Plenty of food for thought this week in Ulster as Alan Solomons bids the province adieu. Still, the team is top of the table with 42 points from 12 matches and face Glasgow, a side with starkly contrasting fortunes.

Averaging less than a point a game, the Scottish side are propping up the division with just nine points, even the cautious South African must feel he can keep the Ulster express on track.

Having announced an unchanged starting line-up for tonight's match at Hughenden, Solomons makes three changes to the bench with Neil McMillan, Shane Stewart and Seamus Mallon all returning from injury.

McMillan replaces Warren Brosnihan, Mallon comes in for Andrew Maxwell while Stewart takes over from Sheldon Coulter, who was brought in on a permit last week because of widespread injury problems.

Having had the luxury of playing at home for the past three weekends, Ulster now have two away matches in succession and just four home games left in the competition. That suggests some away form is required if they have hopes of a league and cup double.

For Glasgow, Calvin Howarth returns at outhalf for Glasgow. A shoulder injury has kept him out the team for two matches.

The home side are looking for their first win in three matches against Ulster this season. Solomons's team won the Ravenhill meeting in September as well as the Celtic Cup semi-final at Hughenden in November, before going on to beat Edinburgh in the final at Murrayfeld in December.

All things equal, Ulster should make it three wins over the Scottish side this season.

GLASGOW: G Metcalf; R Kerr, G Morrison, A Bulloch, S Lamont; C Howarth, G Beveridge; E Murray, S Lawson, A Kelly, J Beardshaw, N Ross, P Dearlove, D McFadyen, J Petrie. Replacements: S Gunn, L Harrison, R Reid, A Wilson, S Pinder, C Gregor, D Millard

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, P Wallace, P Steinmetz, S Young; A Larkin, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, R Moore, G Longwell, M McCullough, A Ward, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, B Young, M Mustchin, N McMillan, K Campbell, S Stewart, S Mallon.

Verdict: Ulster