Ulster can extend run

Edinburgh Gunners v Ulster: No less than losing, winning becomes habitual and Ulster have the habit now. Critically, David Humphreys's retirement from test rugby (though a call to arms one day can by no means be ruled out) has helped guide the champions to two wins.

No team has ever gone a dozen league games without defeat and the return two weeks ahead of completing a 10-week pre-season of Rory Best, Bryan Young and Isaac Boss should freshen things up further.

With a high number of expatriate students based in the Scottish capital, Ulster lost only one of 10 meetings in all competitions with, Edinburgh winning the teams' last half dozen league meetings and their last dozen clashes with Scottish opposition.

They are remarkable trends which can't last for ever and won't necessarily count for much come kick-off. Indeed, the wide confines of Murrayfield suit Edinburgh's well-developed touchline-to-touchline game, and both their confidence and cohesion ought to have benefited from last week's win over Leinster.

Ben Cairns, a rookie professional, will start on the wing in place of the injured Simon Webster, and in the frontrow, prop Alastair Dickinson comes in for Craig Smith while Dave Hewitt starts on the bench for what will be interim coach Henry Edwards's last game in charge.

The looser it gets, the more likely it is to suit Edinburgh whereas the more control the Ulster pack and Humphreys can maintain the better for Ulster. And were it to come down to another tight finish, then Ulster have the fitness and mental strength in the endgame to pull through once more.

EDINBURGH: H Southwell; C Paterson (capt), M Di Roll, R Dewy, B Cairns; P Goodman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, A Dickinson, M Mustine, S Murray, A Starchiest, A Hogg, R Ronnie. Replacements: A Kelly, D Hewitt, F Pryingly, D Callan, G Ludlow, D Hodge, M Peke.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; M Bartholinites, P Steinmetz, P Wallace; A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), B Young, T Barker, M McCullough, S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, T Court, L Stevenson, N McMillan, K Campbell, K Maggs, S Young.

Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRY).

Previous meetings: (02-03) Ulster 18, Edinburgh 19; (03-04) Edinburgh 3, Ulster 41; Ulster 37, Edinburgh 0; (04-05) Edinburgh 16, Ulster 17; Ulster 36, Edinburgh 34; (05-06) Ulster 30, Edinburgh 23; Edinburgh 23, Ulster 31.

Leading points scorers: Edinburgh - Chris Paterson 16. Ulster - David Humphreys 33.

Leading try scorers: Edinburgh - Simon Webster, Alistar Hogg, Duncan Hodge 1 each. Ulster - Bran Cunningham 2.

Forecast: Ulster to win.