PRO12 LEAGUE: Cardiff Blues v Ulster:AN IMPORTANT fixture for both teams as defeat for Ulster would see Cardiff move ahead of them, to fifth, on the RaboDirect Pro12 league table.
Ulster may be without frontline Test players Stephen Ferris, Rory Best and Andrew Trimble but Paddy Wallace, Tom Court and Chris Henry have been released from the Ireland camp.
“With Chris, Tom and Paddy coming back in it means certain people miss out,” said coach Brian McLaughlin.
“It shows the strength of the squad that we are building when players like Mike (McComish) and Adam (D’Arcy), who have proved themselves at this level, aren’t in the team.
“But that provides challenges for those players and for everyone else in the squad.
“This is a very important match for us given the position the two teams occupy in the league. There isn’t much between us so I suppose you could say it’s an eight-pointer. But we’re playing well at the minute and if we play like we have done over the past few weeks, we have a good chance of coming back with the result.
“We’re a confident side now and we know we can beat anyone on our day. There is a good atmosphere amongst the squad and the management and we feel we’re moving forward.”
Cardiff are without the injured, Munster-bound centre Casey Laulala but Dan Parks, who is seemingly Connacht-bound, is at outhalf having retired from international rugby.
Ahead of another fixture at Wales’ spiritual home, Blues coach Justin Burnell was keen to highlight the strengths of the opposition: “(Ruan) Pienaar is a key man for them and if there was a world ranking I certainly think he would be in the top three whether he was playing nine or 10.
“The players and coaches certainly enjoyed being back at the Arms Park last weekend and we are fortunate that we have two great venues to play at. It was a great occasion. Certain players hadn’t played there and were proud that they were given the opportunity.”
Gavin Henson makes yet another return at inside centre for Cardiff but even without their frontline Irish internationals Ulster look the stronger.
CARDIFF BLUES: B Blair; R Mustoe, G Evans, G Henson, T James; D Parks, L Williams; J Yapp, R Tyrell, S Andrews; C Hill, P Tito (capt); M Paterson, J Navidi, X Rush. Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, N Trevett, R Harford, M Molitika, M Williams, R Rees, C Sweeney, C Czekaj.
ULSTER: S Terblanche; C Gilroy, N Spence, P Wallace, I Whitten; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, N Brady, J Afoa; L Stevenson, D Tuohy; C Henry (capt), W Faloon, R Diack. Replacements: A Kyriacou, P McAllister, A Macklin, T Barker, M McComish, P Marshall, S Danielli, A D'Arcy.
Referee: G Clancy(IRFU).
Verdict: Ulster to win.
