Squad News: Despite an encouraging pre-season that culminated in convincing win over the Queensland Reds, Michael Cheika still has some concerns ahead of the opening game in the defence of the Magners League title against the Blues in Cardiff.
Like his Ulster counterpart Matt Williams, who is preparing for a meeting with Llanelli Scarlets at Ravenhill, the Australian has named the strongest squad available to him. However, he is still without injured captain Leo Cullen (shoulder), tighthead CJ Van Der Linde (suspension) and Stan Wright, meaning his pack, and in particular his frontrow, is considerably under strength.
Stephen Knoop is named in the 22 but concern remains over the prop after illness last week. Ronan McCormack and Cian Healy will also travel, as will hookers Bernard Jackman, Brian Blaney and John Fogarty.
Centre Fergus McFadden earns his place in the squad with good performances pre-season, while Luke Fitzgerald and flanker Sean O'Brien have done enough to make the 22.
All eight try scorers from last weekend's win over Queensland are included.
For Cheika, a good pre-season has bred confidence, but the Australian insists there is always room for improvement.
"It has been a good build up," he said. "Winning is an important habit to get into and I think that we were perhaps a little bit apprehensive because we didn't have that same form this time last year.
"Obviously there's a building process going on in the lead up to the season, but I don't think that we were as secure as we needed to be (last weekend). That gives us something to work on because we know that Cardiff are capable of playing a hard-working, strong-running and offloading game.
Of the 48-19 win over the Reds, Cheika was glad of the opportunity to give some players game time, though he was still critical of mistakes during the match. "I felt we were able to get a few players out there and it was pleasing that we could maintain the same level. You don't like to leak tries.
"What we're doing this week is prioritising the areas that didn't go right and move on from there. In the context of where we are, it was a good run-out for the guys," added Cheika.
Cheika knows Cardiff will be tough opposition, particularly on home turf. "They had a big win last weekend (43-13) against Northampton and it's always tough down there," he said. "So it's a matter of how we set ourselves up as a team, then the strategy that we take into the game.
"We need to be better in our defence than we were on Saturday. But it was good that players are starting to get into the routine of playing 60, 70 and 80 minutes. The bench showed that they came on with good qualities, which was also encouraging.
Cheika will name his team at lunchtime on Friday with kick-off at the Arms Park on Saturday at 6.30pm.
Williams has no major injury worries ahead of the Scarlets' visit to Ravenhill and South Africa's BJ Botha is in line for his first start since joining the province.
The game will afford Ulster an opportunity to deal a psychological blow to their Heineken European Cup pool opponents, who are captained by Simon Easterby.
Former Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is in line for his first competitive start for the Ospreys when they take on Connacht at the Sportsground on Friday at 6.30pm.
Leinster squad: Forwards:C Healy, S Knoop, R McCormack, B Jackman, B Blaney, J Fogarty, C Jowitt, M O'Kelly, D Toner, T Hogan, S Keogh, S Jennings, S O'Brien, K McLaughlin, J Heaslip
Backs:C Whitaker, C Keane, P O'Donohoe, J Sexton, F Contepomi, B O'Driscoll, G Brown, S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, I Nacewa, F McFadden, R Kearney, S Keogh, E O'Malley, G Dempsey
Ulster squad: Forwards:J Fitzpatrick; N Brady, T Court, R Best; B Botha, C Del Fava, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, D Pollock, M McCullough, K Dawson, R Diack
Backs:I Boss; P Wallace, T Nagusa, R Dewey, D Cave, A Trimble, C Schisfoske, C Willis, N O'Connor, B Cunningham.
Scarlets Team to face Ulster:Stoddard; Darren Daniel, Rob Higgitt, Gavin Evans, Mark Jones; Stephen Jones, Sililo Martens; Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Kees Meeuws; Lou Reed, Simon Maling; Simon Easterby (c), David Lyons, Gavin Thomas Replacements: Deacon Manu, Mahonri Schwalger,Vernon Cooper, Dafydd Jones, Martin Roberts, Ceiron Thomas, Nathan Brew, Daniel Evans, Scott MacLeod
Ospreys team to face Connacht:Lee Byrne; Nikki Walker, Sonny Parker, Andrew Bishop, Tommy Bowe; James Hook, Rhys Webb; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Cai Griffiths; Ian Gough, Ian Evans; Andy Lloyd, Marty Holah, Ryan Jones (c) Replacements: Ed Shervington, Duncan Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Filo Tiatia, Rhodri Wells, Gareth Owen, Shane Williams
