Scarlets v Ulster: Teams
Scarlets boss Nigel Davies has made three changes to his side, while Ulster's Matt Williams has freshened up his line-up.
Last Updated: 12/12/08 3:07pm
Scarlets boss Nigel Davies has made three changes to his side for the battle of the also-rans in Pool Four of the Heineken Cup.
While Harlequins and Stade Francais slug it out at the top of the pool, the Scarlets have lost all three of their matches in this season's competition, with Ulster's 26-16 victory over the Welsh region at Ravenhill their first of the campaign.
As a result Davies has opted to bring Rhys Priestland in at full-back, while Darren Daniel returns from injury to take his place on the right wing.
In the pack, Phil John gets the nod at loosehead ahead of Iestyn Thomas.
In the backs Rhys Priestland comes in at full-back and Darren Daniel returns from injury to take his place on the right wing.
Despite his side recording that win over Scarlets in round three of fixtures, Ulster coach Matt Williams has made several changes to his side for Friday's reverse fixture.
To that note there are only two changes in the starting XV, Cillian Willis is ruled out through injury, paving the way for Ireland cap Isaac Boss to start at scrum-half. The other change sees Paddy Wallace return at inside centre.
Williams believes his team's elusive away win is within reach this Friday, having not won on the road yet this season.
Challenges
"There are a number of challenges that I wanted to take on this year that were much more mental than physical, winning away from home in Europe and the Magners League is something we have just got to address. The field is exactly the same size, the same width and there is no reason for it," Williams said.
"That we have never done it is not an excuse. It is completely irrelevant. For professionals who have beaten Munster at home, Edinburgh at home and beat a very good Llanelli side at home and then to say 'ah, but away we can't win' is not acceptable.
"It is not acceptable to me, it is not acceptable to anyone within the organisation. I told the boys that it is purely mental. They have got to front it up. We are staying in the hotel that we like, which we go to all the time, we know our opposition, we have played them twice, won once and lost closely, and there is no reason for us to go there with any sort of baggage."
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Priestland, 14 Darren Daniel, 13 Regan King, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Mark Jones, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons (c), 7 Simon Easterby, 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Vernon Cooper, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Phil John.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Aled Hopkins, 18 Scott MacLeod, 19 Jon Edwards, 20 Gavin Cattle, 21 Ceiron Thomas, 22 Lee Williams.
Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 David Pollock, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 3 BJ Botha, 2 R Best, 1 Justin Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: 16 N Brady, 17 Tom Court, 18 Matt McCullough, 19 Kieron Dawson, 20 Paul Marshall, 21 Paul Steinmetz, 22 Clinton Schifcofske.