Ulster to face stiff test in Paris

Ulster's new-found confidence on the back of a five-game winning run will receive its most stringent test yet when they face last season's beaten finalists in Paris this afternoon.

Ulster's hand has been slightly diminished by the absence of Jeremy Davidson and Gary Longwell from their second-row, although they do at least have the latter to spring from the bench.

Most disconcertingly of all though, there must also be a doubt over whether David Humphreys can maintain his sensational vein of form given his seemingly remarkable recovery from the ankle injury he sustained against England last week.

Stade Francais have named a full-strength side save for their two long-term casualties, Thomas Lombard and Christophe Moni - both of whom are sidelined until the New Year - which reads like a Who's Who of French rugby and manifestly states their cold-eyed intent today.

Along with Munster, Stade Francais have been the most consistent team in the Heineken Cup lately on the premise that they are the only two sides to have qualified for the knockout stages in each of the last three seasons.

Despite Stade Francais' continuing lack of consistency at home and abroad (last Wednesday's 18-20 home defeat to Toulouse followed by Sunday's 46-16 home win over Dax left them with two wins and three defeats from their first five French championship matches), winger Christophe Dominici is confident that this fluctuating formguide will not be reflected in his team's pursuit of their Holy Grail, i.e. the Heineken Cup.

STADE FRANCAIS: S Jonnet; C Dominici, F Comba, D Venditti, A Gomes; D Dominguez, F Galthie; S Marconnet, M Blin, P de Villiers, D Auradou, M James, P Tabacco, C Juillet (capt), R Pool-Jones. Replacements - B August, L Emmanuelli, R Martin, P Rabadan, N Raffault, J Berthe, M Lajus.

ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, S Stewart, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best, P Johns, M Blair, T McWhirter, R Nelson, A Ward. Replacements - M Crick, C Boyd, G Longwell, N McMillen, B Free, A Larkin, B Cunningham.

Referee: S Lander (England).

Previous meetings: (1998-99) semi-finals - Ulster 33 Stade Francais 27.

Formguide: Stade Francais - 25-19 v Wasps (a), 42-9 v Treviso (h); Ulster - 33-28 v Treviso (a), 42-19 v Wasps (h).

Leading try scorers: Stade Francais - Christophe Dominici (2); Ulster - David Humphreys (2).

Leading points scorers: Stade Francais - Diego Dominguez (35); Ulster - David Humphreys (60).

Odds (Paddy Powers): Handicap better (= Ulster +18pts) 10/11 Stade Francais, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Ulster.

Forecast: Stade Francais to win.