Rugby:Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made a total of seven personnel changes and two positional switches for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash against the Scarlets.

Johann Muller returns to captain the side from the second row, where he is resumes his partnership with Dan Tuohy.

Ireland prop Tom Court will join Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick in the front row. The back row remains unchanged from the last match against Treviso, with Pedrie Wanneneburg and Mike McComish on the flanks and Chris Henry at number eight.

Paul Marshall makes way for returning Springbok Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf with Paddy Wallace joining Nevin Spence in the centre. Andrew Trimble and Craig Gilroy have been named on the wings, with Simon Danielli switching to fullback.

McLaughlin admitted: “We’ve had a very positive week with Johann at the helm as captain and we’re looking to put in a positive performance. The guys who have played up until now have done a great job and they will get plenty of opportunities as the season progresses, with so many games on the horizon.

“We had to make a few tough decisions in terms of selection. Leaving Darren Cave out of the side was very difficult considering the form he was in. Paddy (Wallace) and Nevin (Spence) struck up a good relationship last season and it’s a tried and tested combination. We know with Darren on the bench, it will give us a bit of quality there and it gives us great options.

“We have a long run of games now and it’s important that we get off on the right foot against Scarlets. We will be looking for a good performance as well as a good result.”

Ulster:S Danielli; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy; P Wannenburg, M McComish, C Henry. Replacements: N Brady, P McAllister, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, P Marshall, D Cave, A D'Arcy.