Rugby - team news:Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has decided to keep front-liners BJ Botha and Rory Best in reserve for tomorrow night's match against Edinburgh. But Andrew Trimble will make his first start of the season after recovering from a hand injury.
In all, McLaughlin has made a total of eight changes to the side that overcame Aironi on the road last weekend as the coach freshens things up. Trimble’s inclusion on the wing is one of four personnel switches in the back line with Jamie Smith, Paul Emerick and Ian Whitten also coming into the side.
Stephen Ferris, who agreed a new two-year deal with the province earlier in the week, returns to the back row at the expense of Pedrie Wannenburg while Bryan Young, Andi Kyriacou and Tim Barker all start at Ravenhill.
New signing Ruan Pienaar, meanwhile, arrived in Belfast from South Africa this morning to link up with the province after agreeing a two-year deal. The Springbok will be in the stands for tomorrow’s match and will train with his new teammates early next week.
Despite last week’s bruising encounter against the Llanelli Scarlets, Connacht coach Eric Elwood has been able to name an unchanged starting line-up for the westerner’s trip to Glasgow.
Ray Ofisa, Niva Ta’auso and Bernie Upton all passed fitness tests and travelled with the squad to Glasgow this morning. The only change to the matchday 23 sees Andrew Browne replacing Dave Nolan on the replacements bench.
Ulster(v Edinburgh): J Smith; P Emerick, D Cave, I Whitten, A Trimble; N O'Connor, P Marshall; B Young, A Kyriacou, T Court; J Muller, R Caldwell; S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements:R Best, P McAllister, BJ Botha, T Barker, P Wannenburg, I Porter, I Humphreys, D McIlwaine
Connacht(v Glasgow): G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy (capt); B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, M McComish. Replacements:A Flavin, R Loughney, R Sweeney, A Browne, S Conneely, C Willis, M Nikora, T O'Halloran.