Ulster v Connacht: Teams

Ulster coach has named his strongest possible line-up for the clash against Connacht - with Rory Best and Stephen Ferris both returning to the fray.

Best and Ferris have both impressed while away on international duty with Ireland and Ulster coach Matt Williams will be looking for them to carry that form in to the Magners League.

And Ferris is expecting a physical encounter at Ravenhill.

He said: "We have to have a mentality that this is a must-win game. Yes, there is a lot of rugby to be played in the league before the end of the season, but we want to be winning all our games.

"Connacht can be very physical and they have surprised a few teams this season, including Leinster, so we cannot assume that we are going to get things all our own way.

Concentrate

"The breakdown will prove crucial and I think if it is anyway dry we must get quick ball up front and get our backs away. It is important we concentrate on ourselves and get the team gelling together as it did in the win against Munster."

Full-back Gavin Duffy has been handed the Connacht captaincy for the Magners League clash against Ulster at Ravenhill.

Team captain John Muldoon is ruled out of the all-Irish affair with a knee injury, meaning Duffy will lead the side for the first time.

Connacht welcome Keith Matthews back for the first time since September after the inside centre overcame a calf injury.

Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy will also renew their half back partnership, while in the pack hooker Sean Cronin is joined in the front row by Brett Wilkinson and Robbie Morris.

On the bench, Tim Donnelly returns for the first time since damaging his shoulder against Edinburgh last season.

Ulster: 1 Justin Fitzpatrick, 2 Rory Best (Capt), 3 Brendan Botha, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 David Pollock, 8 Robbie Diack, 9 Cillian Willis, 10 Ian Humphreys, 11 Mark McCrea, 12 Paddy Wallace, 13 Darren Cave, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 15 Bryn Cunningham.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Tom Court, 18 Matt McCullough, 19 Kieron Dawson, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Paul Steinmetz, 22 Simon Danielli

Connacht: 15 G Duffy (capt), 14 F Carr, 13 M Deane, 12 K Matthews, 11 T Nathan, 10 I Keatley, 9 F Murphy, 1 B Wilkinson, 2 S Cronin, 3 R Morris, 4 M McCarthy, 5 A Farley, 6 R Ofisa, 7 J O'Connor, 8 C Rigney.
Replacements: 16 A Flavin, 17 R Loughney, 18 A Browne, 19 M Swift, 20 K Campbell, 21 T Donnelly, 22 J Hearty.