Ulster aim to once more drive their record home

Stade Français may be the aristocrats of European rugby, but they have yet to figure out how to win at Ravenhill. Ulster have met their Parisian counterparts at the pool stages in two of the previous three seasons, with both sides recording victories on their own patch.

"David Humphreys was talking to (Agustin) Pichot after the Ireland-Argentina match and Pichot remarked how much Stade hate travelling to Belfast," said Ulster manager John McComish. "They hate the weather and they always lose."

Ulster coach Mark McCall is expected to name a similar starting 15 for this weekend's game, despite his team's poor showing in Paris last week - although there is a concern surrounding Humphreys' fitness, after the outhalf stubbed a toe kicking last Saturday.

Simon Best and Andy Ward are still a few weeks off returning to action, but Matt Mustchin may come into the second row at the expense of Tim Barker. The team will be named today.

Pichot returns to these shores for the first time since he accused Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll of trying to dupe referee Tony Spreadbury into sin-binning players during Argentina's game in Dublin two weeks ago. The Argentinian missed the corresponding fixture between Stade and Ulster last week because the club released him to play for Argentina against South Africa.

"Pichot brings another element to their team. More control and direction," said McComish. "We need to win every game and collect a bonus point, but starting with Saturday we need a win.

"We also have Gloucester at home and have targeted the last game away to the Cardiff Blues for picking up the bonus."

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made one change to the team that obliterated Montpellier 56-3 for the second leg of the European Challenge Cup tie, with lock Pieter Myburgh coming in for Christian Short in a straight swap.

Leinster have confirmed Leo Cullen's shoulder injury is not as serious as initially feared and there is even a possibility he will play against Bourgoin this Friday.

However, the team named today will not include Gordon D'Arcy who has yet to recover from the groin injury he sustained scoring a try against Bath on October 30th. The province's trip to the Rec to face Bath in early January has been earmarked as his possible return.

The Irish management will have been pleased to hear that X-rays on Llanelli captain Simon Easterby's ribs have revealed no fracture. The flanker was forced off prematurely during the Welsh club's narrow victory away to Glasgow last week.

Trevor Brennan is expected to return from concussion to play in Toulouse's Pool Three match against Northampton Saints on Saturday.

Following hot on the heels of John Hayes, Ronan O'Gara will this weekend become the 11th player to gain 50 caps in the European Cup against Castres at Thomond Park.

And if O'Gara kicks six more points he will leap frog Diego Dominguez as the competition's leading points scorer. Dominguez has kicked 645 points in 42 appearances.

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson, P Warwick, J Downey, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley; M Swift, J Muldoon, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, D McFarland, P Bracken, P Myburgh, B O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, M Walls.