Matt Williams needs his strongest possible side out for the opening Heineken European Cup game against Stade Francais at Ravenhill tomorrow afternoon (3.30pm) but will be without David Pollock for tomorrow's Pool Four clash.
The Australian has made three changes as he looks to build on the province's first win of the season against Edinburgh in the Magners League last weekend.
Last week's try scorer David Pollock had been ruled out with injury with former Irish international Kieran Dawson coming into the side at open side flanker. Matt McCullough is named on the bench as back row cover.
"David Pollock has knocked his knee again, same as earlier in the season," said Williams today. "There is very little between David Pollock and Kieron Dawson, they are great players and it would be a very hard decision to leave either of them out.
"This season each time one of them has played he has been our strongest player and in my opinion outstanding. Dawson was inspirational against the Ospreys and I have every faith in him for tomorrow."
Paddy Wallace returns to the fold after recovering from a hamstring injury, as does Isaac Boss, while Paul Steinmetz and Cillian Willis are named on the bench.
"I'm pleased that Paddy has returned to the side, he is one of our best players and has taken on the role of inside centre really well this season. I'm confident that he will play well within the team tomorrow.
"Isaac will start this game after being on the bench last week, he just offers a bit more of a physical presence and I think we will need that earlier in the game when Stade are coming at us hard. Cillian Willis has been playing really well and there is not a lot between the two of them but for this game I just thought it best to start Isaac," explained Williams.
Fijian international Timoci Nagusa failed to make the match day squad.
Stade have won all seven of their games thus far this season, coming to Ravenhill on top of their game.
There are few better than outhalf Juan Martin Hernandez when he turns up, while fullback Lionel Beauxis can punish infringements that would be out of range for most place kickers.
An athletic pack boasts a host of internationals with Dimitri Szarzewski at hooker, Scotland's Simon Taylor in the secondrow and tan all-Italian backrow, consisting for the dynamic Mauro Bergamasco and Pierre Rabadan and marshalled by Sergio Parisse.
The game has yet to sell out and Williams, whose side would clearly benefit from a fullhouse, has urged those undecided fans to lend their support.
"It is so much fun to be back involved in the Heineken Cup, it is the best competition in the world and to be playing against the best club team in the world at Ravenhill, a ground with so much European history, is just tremendous," said the Australian today.
"Stade are the best team in the world and it will be great to watch them run out at Ravenhill, I would urge supporters to come along because this is a superb side and they will be amazing to watch."
Ulster team (v Stade Francais):B Cunningham; C Schifcofske, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; N O'Connor, I Boss; T Court, R Best (C), BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, S Ferris, K Dawson, R Diack. Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, C Del Fava, M McCullough, C Willis, I Humphreys, P Steinmetz
Stade Francais:L Beauxis; J Arias, G Bousses, B Liebenberg, J Saubade; J M Hernandez, N Oelschig; R Roncero, D Szarzewski, D Attoub; A Marchois, S Taylor; M Bergamasco, P Rabadan, S Parisse. Replacements: M Blin, S Marconnet, P Vigouroux, J Leguizamon, T Bouhraoua, M Bastareaud, D Camara.
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