Ulster face daunting challenge

Ulster's defeat in the Celtic League last week at Donnybrook should be a useful motivational tool as coach Alan Solomons plots the downfall of Leicester Tigers.

The province have become used to tempering fierce reputations and although it's likely Leicester will travel with less queasiness than the beaten Stade Français did last month, Ulster carry the burden of needing to win this one in order to hope they can leave more than just a light footprint in this season's European Cup.

Losing to Gwent in their opening away match has obviously increased anxiety and although the game against Stade reaffirmed how strong Ulster are in Belfast, Leicester, even without Geordan Murphy and some of their sidelined Buckingham Palace-honoured stars, represent the biggest threat Ulster have faced at Ravenhill Road for some months.

No doubt breaking with tradition and playing their first match ever on the Sabbath may shake a few conservative souls but as the ground was sold out midweek, it appears Ulster are ready enough to support the White Knights in their deviation from Sunday abstinence.

The understanding appears to be there; that the Ulster Branch does not decide on fixtures and Sky television does. An unpalatable development in many respects, but one the rugby fraternity have quickly digested even in the church-laden roads around Ravenhill.

With Shane Stewart back in the centre for Adam Larkin, the midfield should tighten up. Stewart and Paul Steinmetz are tough enforcers, with Steinmetz also showing against Leinster his legs have pace on the break.

Full back Paddy Wallace will also want to grab a bigger chunk of the game than he did last week and is capable of doing so, while the back row with the mobile Neil Best and Roger Wilson have settled well with Andy Ward.

But Ulster's performance will again hinge on David Humphreys (right) and the effectiveness of the pack. Last week was not a match to judge the side. Flat and lacking imagination last weekend, Ulster are a better team than Leinster showed them to be. But they are in no doubt about the magnitude of what is being asked and the visitors also arrive somewhat desperate for a win to preserve their ambitions of progressing from the pool.

Like Ulster, Leicester have won their home match in the group while losing away.

Rugby director Dean Richards has made four changes to the side that lost to Gloucester last weekend in the English Premiership with England hooker Dorian West and former All Black centre Daryl Gibson both proving their fitness during the week.

Gibson's inclusion forces Ollie Smith to outside centre and Leon Lloyd to the wing while Ramiro Pez comes in to face Humphreys at outhalf.

There is an ostentatious quality all around this side, captained by England openside flanker Neil Back. South African full-back Jaco van der Westhuyzen, scrumhalf Austin Healey, loose-head prop Graham Rowntree and World Cup captain Martin Johnson in the second row partnering international team-mate Ben Kay, bring a heavyweight, intimidating feel to Ravenhill.

Whether the sum of all those parts can add up to a threat is what Solomons will be asking of his team, who have won 19 of their previous 20 home games.

Leicester also carry with them a pretty average record against Irish sides, winning four and losing four in the Heineken Cup and they know that in the Ulster set-up and especially in Belfast, it is the team that is the enduring strength of the side. They have melded into something more than a composite of individuals. In that department Solomons has triumphed.

It is also a meeting of twice-European champions Leicester against the 1999 winners in what is expected to be one of the tightest Pool finishes in the competition. Leicester are currently on top, having beaten Gwent with a bonus point. It's that sort of magnitude, a bonus point, which could ultimately separate the teams. While Leicester are unaccustomedly struggling in the bottom half of the Premiership Richards appears sanguine about matters.

"Stade Français have not started too well but they are packed with stars, a bit like us," he said on the Tigers website. "I don't doubt what we have here. For one reason or another things have not quite happened, but I'm confident it will sort itself out."

Solomons went into last week's game against a weakened Leinster side not having been able to train because of frozen pitches up North but twice came back into it before a flourishing finish. He should look to that for comfort.

ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, R Frost, M Mustchin, A Ward (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: R Moore, P Shields, M McCullough, W Brosnihan, K Campbell, A Larkin, B Cunningham.

LEICESTER: J Van der Westhuyzen; N Baxter, O Smith, D Gibson, L Lloyd; R Pez, A Healey; G Rowntree, D West, D Morris, M Johnson, B Kay, W Johnson, N Back (capt), H Tuilagi. Replacements: J Richards, R Nebbett, L Deacon, W Skinner, S Vesty, L Myring, G Gelderbloom.

Referee: J Jutge (France).

Ulster v Leicester

Ravenhill

Tomorrow, 1 p.m.