Ulster v Bath: Teams

Bath head coach Steve Meehan believes the Heineken Cup is just the change his side needs after a slow start to the season.

Meehan's men have won just one of their opening five Guinness Premiership fixtures and begin their assault on the European trophy at 1999 winners Ulster on Friday night.

Speaking ahead of the match, the Bath boss told the club's official website: "We are still in touching distance of the top four at the moment and to win the Guinness Premiership it's the minimum you need to achieve.

"So we were two points behind Quins, two points behind Wasps and we drew with Leicester. There is a lot of rugby left in the Premiership and our next two matches are at home too.

"The Heineken Cup brings a different focus for the guys. It is a two-week sprint as opposed to having five or six matches, and everyone starts with level points, so there is an opportunity there.

"Having said that, Friday night at Ravenshill will always be difficult.

"We are going to be faced with challenges against Ulster, so it doesn't get any easier. But, it is nice to have a new focus and drive."

Opportunity

Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin has named a virtually unchanged line-up from the starting XV who beat Scarlets last weekend.

The only change is in the pack where Nigel Brady starts as the replacement hooker, while Andy Kyriacou comes back in at No.2.

Ireland international Paddy Wallace will once again captain the side in Rory Best's absence.

Speaking ahead of the match, McLaughlin told the official Ulster website: "We have got to raise our performance. You have to remember that in the Heineken Cup all of the teams are upping their game, aiming to play better and really wanting to get results. So it's an opportunity for us to see exactly how far we have travelled.

"You look at the tournament and the teams you are coming up against and it's obvious it's a ferocious competition; there's not one bad team in it. All of the games are going to be tough.

"It's also seen as being just one step below international rugby, so Friday night is a great opportunity for our players to go out and show just how capable they are and how far they have come.

"And it's good for us as a management team to see them play at that level; it helps us gauge how far they have progressed and where they still have to go.

"We're very keen to show that we can play good rugby, though in doing that we also have to be aware of the quality of the opposition and the need to play accordingly."

Ulster: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace (capt), 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss; 1 Tom Court, 2 Andy Kyriacou, 3 Brendon Botha, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Willie Faloon, 8 Robbie Diack.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Neil McComb, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Ian Whitten, 23 Simon Danielli.

Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Matt Carraro, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Ryan Davis, 9 Michael Claassens (capt); 1 David Flatman, 2 Lee Mears, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Stuart Hooper, 5 Danny Grewcock, 6 Andy Beattie, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Jonny Faamatuainu.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Dixon, 17 David Barnes, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Peter Short, 20 Ben Skirving, 21 Scott Bemand, 22 Nicky Little, 23 Jack Cuthbert.