Ulster must defeat Llanelli

Celtic League/Ulster v Llanelli, Ravenhill Rd, 7.05: While Ulster's excellent home record has always been a feature of their campaigns, the team's form over the past five weeks has been nothing other than patchy.

In this must-win final match, they face a tough challenge against a side who can afford to leave Lions scrumhalf Dwayne Peel on the bench.

For how long might be the question.

Llanelli also have their top scorer, Gareth Bowen, comfortably in at number 10.

The outhalf has scored 149 points this season, well above Ulster's most prolific kicker, David Humphreys, who along with international winger Tyrone Howe is out of the game through injury.

Ulster stick with the same side that lost last week, Paddy Wallace again taking Humphreys' place at outhalf with Kieran Campbell partnering him at scrumhalf.

Tommy Bowe, on eight tries so far, is along with a few others on the team hoping to impress with a summer tour to Japan in the offing.

Their form will be closely monitored.

Ulster have to win in order to qualify for the end-of-season Celtic Cup.

Only the top eight go straight into a quarter-final match in two weeks' time and at this stage, it is all the Ulster side have to play for, while a win would almost certainly ensure that the Welsh side earn a home draw in the cup competition.

TEAM SELECTIONS

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, S Young; P Wallace, K Campbell; S Best, P Shields, R Moore, G Longwell, M McCullough, A Ward (capt), G Pfister, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Best, R McCormack, R Frost, C Feather, N Doak, A Larkin, A Maxwell.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: B Davies; G Evans, T Selley, S Thomas, L Byrne; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, M Rees, J Davies, V Cooper, A Jones, S Easterby (capt), A Powell, J Mills.

Replacements: R Davies, A Gravelle, C Wyatt, I Boobyer, D Peel, A Thomas, I Evans.

Referee: A Ireland (Scotland)

Verdict: Llanelli win.