Ulster v Cardiff: At the back of minds this weekend is the start of the Heineken European Cup next week. For all the talk of one match at a time and concentrating on the game in hand, Ulster coach, Mark McCall, cannot but be thinking of Ulster's home game against Toulouse next Saturday in their first European Cup Pool game.
Cardiff Blues will also be plotting a little further ahead than usual as they have to travel to France for a tough European Cup opener against Bourgoin, also on Saturday. So more than points are at stake. A little form, a good showing, a greater intensity is what both sides are hoping for today.
The Ulster starting line-up shows just one change to that which defeated Connacht 24-17 last weekend. McCall has opted to name a replacements bench that includes four forwards and three backs. His preference over the last two games has been to opt for additional forward cover. Adam Larkin is named as a replacement with Kieron Dawson not included this week.
For Cardiff Ben White and Ed Fairhurst will make their first start for the team this season. The side, however, shows a massive eight changes from the starting line-up that defeated Saracens in last weekend's EDF Cup match. Ben Blair has had an injection in his knee and should be back in full training in three days while Xavier Rush has tweaked his groin and may not be fit for next week's match against Bourgoin.
But Cardiff do have the likes of Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins and Tom Shanklin on the replacements bench, so there has been some considerable thought about how Cardiff are going to tactically approach this match.
But Ulster will go into the game as leaders of the Magner Celtic League table and are also out to extend their winning home run beyond the current eight-match streak.
Cardiff are aware of how difficult teams find the visit to Belfast but the Blues arrive having won their last three matches in all competitions, although, critically they haven't won on the road since beating the Dragons back in April of this year.
Their history in Ireland is even more dismal and their only return from 10 visits here is one win, when they picked off Connacht 8-18 in January of 2005. ULSTER: B Cunningham; A Maxwell, K Maggs, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, N Young, J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, D Fitzpatrick, T Barker, N McMillan, KCampbell, A Larkin, Syoung.
CARDIFF BLUES: N Macleod; C Czekaj, J Robinson, M Stcherbina, R Williams; N Robinson E Parkhurst; M Lewis, B White, S Morgan, J Goode, D Jones, G Powell, D Goodfield, J Yapp. Replacements: G Jenkins, G Williams B Davies, M Williams, W Evans, T Shanklin, D Flannigan.
Referee: A Ireland (SRU).
Previous meetings: (2003) Ulster 32 Cardiff 7, Ravenhill; (04) Cardiff 19 Ulster 15, The Arms Park; Ulster 30 Cardiff 14, Ravenhill; (05) Cardiff 22 Ulster 8, The Arms Park; Cardiff 22 Ulster 25, The Arms Park 05.
Leading points scorers: Ulster - David Humphreys 88, Cardiff - Nick Robinson 28, Ben Blair 26.
Leading try scorers: Ulster - Bryn Cunningham 3, Paul Steinmetz 3, Cardiff Blues - no player has scored more than one try.
Verdict: Home win.
