CELTIC LEAGUE/Ulster v Leinster: For several reasons, this is a massive occasion for Ulster rugby. It's their last home game of the season, before next week's Celtic League decider against Llanelli in Stradey Park. It's the end of Alan Solomons four-year reign, before he takes up arms with Northampton Saints next season, and it marks the 100th appearance of their captain Andy Ward.
Injury-jinxed Leinster will need to rediscover their 2003 form to stand a chance at a packed Ravenhill.
Ulster are also struggling with injuries and Solomons has resisted naming his back line until today due to doubts over Tyrone Howe (ankle), Scott Young (shoulder) and Shane Stewart (chest). The pack is the same eight that overpowered The Borders last week.
In the absence of Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, whose damaged a/c joint ended his excellent season, Irish under-21 international John Hearty makes his provincial debut and duly becomes the 54th player to be used by Gary Ella.
Peter Coyle holds off Emmett Byrne for the tight-head spot. Eric Miller and Leo Cullen make timely returns to the back five, especially with the Ireland tour to South Africa coming up in June. Ever-presents Ben Gissing and Des Dillon drop to the bench, while Aidan McCullen gets into a revamped back row, where Niall Ronan is also demoted.
Ella has named just two backs on the bench in Brian O'Riordan and Clontarf's Dara O'Shea.
Despite their season now being a damp squib, Leinster do have a substantial say in the final destination of the league title as they play third-place Gwent Dragons in their final match next week at Lansdowne road.
Judging from recent form they will struggle to contain Ulster this evening.
ULSTER: backs from: T Bowe, K Campbell, B Cunningham, N Doak, T Howe, D Humphreys, A Larkin, S Mallon, S Stewart, J Topping, S Young, P Wallace. Forwards: S Best, M Sexton, R Moore; G Longwell, R Frost; A Ward, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, R McCormack, M Mustchin, N McMillan.
LEINSTER: J Norton; J McWeeney, J Hearty, F Contepomi, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Coyle; M O' Kelly, L Cullen; A McCullen, E Miller, V Costello. Replacements: E Byrne, D Blaney, B Gissing, D Dillon, N Ronan, B O'Riordan, D O'Shea.
Recently retired Ulster player Ryan Constable will coach the Ireland seven's team in two pre-2005 World Cup qualifiers, starting with a trip to Sopot, Poland, this weekend. The second tournament is in Split, Croatia next weekend.
IRELAND SQUAD: Fiachra Baynes (Lansdowne), Tom Carter (UCD), David Connellan (Buccaneers), James Downey (Clontarf), David Hewitt (Clontarf), Gavin Hickie (St Mary's College), Ian Humphreys (Ballymena), Chris Keane (Buccaneers), Andrew Maxwell (Ballymena), Michael McComish (Ballymena).
