Ulster seek continuity

Ulster v Gwent, 7.30 Ravenhill: With a bye in last week's Celtic Cup and a previous win against Glasgow in the league, Ulster are seeking a result to generate some continuity at Ravenhill Road tonight, and even with coach Alan Solomons having to introduce youth to the front row, Ulster will look at Gwent as an appetising fixture.

Naturally Solomons, who had just 24 players from which to chose, has looked to field a side as close as possible to the one that won the Glasgow game 33-6 two weeks ago, but he has been forced to make three changes, one of them most welcome.

Out wide Ulster will again have the services of Ireland winger Tyrone Howe, who had been absent with the Irish squad. That gives Solomons speed and experience, though with Bryan Young coming in at prop in his first Ulster start because of Rod Moore's return to Australia for three weeks, that may be an area the Dragons will target.

Neil McMillan, another young talent, is sidelined for at least a month with cruciate trouble, with Solomons reshuffling his back row to accommodate Roger Wilson. Wilson joins Tony McWhirter and Andy Ward in the back row, no shrinking violets, while there is still a lot of flair in the back line in Bryn Cunningham, Scott Young and Ryan Constable.

"Obviously the team that faced Glasgow was our strongest with the exception of Tyrone," said Solomons. "It has been damned difficult in this a World Cup year, but this has been a big building year for Ulster and I believe we now have a good blend of youth and experience. If we perform the result will follow."

The Welsh have rejigged their back line since losing to Llanelli last weekend with a view to giving more width in attack. Ben Breeze arrives at full back and the wingers also change, Gerald Arasa and Kevin James starting. Nathan Brew switches to centre while Craig Warlow comes in at outhalf.

Even with those above-mentioned changes, Ulster still look strong enough to win.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, R Constable, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, M Sexton, B Young, M Mustchin, R Frost, T McWhirter, A Ward (captain), R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, S Shaw, M McCullough, N Best, R Spee, S Mallon, J Topping

GWENT DRAGONS: B Breeze; G Arasa, N Brew, A Marinos, K James; C Warlow, R Jones; A Black, S Jones, C Anthony, I Gough, P Sidoli, R Oakley, J Forster, S van Rensburg. Replacements: D Pattison, K Crawford, L Charteris, J Ringer, S Winn, L Jarvis, G Baber.

Referee: A Ireland (Scotland).