Ulster v Edinburgh: Teams

Ulster coach Matt Williams has made sweeping changes as his side prepare to welcome Edinburgh to Ravenhill for Friday's Magners League encounter.

There are eight personnel changes, as well as two positional, from the side that went down to the Ospreys last time out.

Tom Court, Ed O'Donoghue, Stephen Ferris and Paul Steinmetz are all promoted from the bench, while Rory Best and David Pollock both return from injury.

Darren Cave and Cillian Willis are given the nod ahead of Rob Dewey and Paul Marshall, who have both been dropped from the squad.

"The changes I have made are all based on performance, apart from Kieron Dawson," Williams explained.

"Kieron was exceptional last week and has been our best player lately, he is on the bench only because we are giving him a rest from the starting line up this week.

"Edinburgh are a very good side, Andy Robinson is a world class coach and their defence has improved enormously under his direction.

"They had a great win over the Scarlets a few weeks ago and played some high quality rugby against the Dragons at the weekend. They know our form has been poor of late, and will be coming over here looking for a win."

Edinburgh will hand a Magners League starting debut to Jim Thompson, with Chris Paterson ruled out of the clash.

Odds

Thompson, who will slot into full-back, is the grandson of famous rugby commentator Bill McLarten, while his father is horse racing presenter Derek.

And Thompson has joked that his dad has already checked out the odds for him to score the first try.

"I'm really looking forward to it. It is a shame that Mossy (Paterson) is out injured and I feel for him," Thompson said.

"But it has created an opportunity for me and I'm looking forward to starting for Edinburgh and playing as well as I can.

"I gave my Dad a wee text earlier on and he replied: 'Well done son!'

"Unfortunately he can't make it over to Belfast, but I'm sure he has already checked the odds on me scoring the first try!"

John Houston will joi Thompson in the back-three after recovering from a long-term pelvic injury, while fly-half David Blair makes his first start of the campaign in a half-back combination with elder brother Mike.

Andrew Kelly comes in at hooker, with regular No.2 Ross Ford named on the bench, Ben Gissing returns to the second row.

National Academy flanker Chris Fusaro could make his debut for Edinburgh if he is called off the bench.

Ulster: 15 Bryn Cunningham, 14 Clinton Schifcofske, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paul Steinmetz, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Cillian Willis, 1 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best (c), 3 BJ Botha, 4 Ed O'Donoghue, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 David Pollock, 8 Robbie Diack.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Justin Fitzpatrick, 18 Carlo Del Fava, 19 Kieron Dawson/Matt McCullough, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Ian Humphreys, 22 Timoci Nagusa.

Edinburgh: 15 Jim Thompson, 14 John Houston, 13 Hugo Southwell, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Mark Robertson, 10 David Blair, 9 Mike Blair (c), 1 Allan Jacobsen, 2 Andrew Kelly, 3 Gavin Kerr, 4 Jim Hamilton, 5 Ben Gissing, 6 Matt Mustchin, 7 Allister Hogg, 8 Scott Newlands.
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 Chris Fusaro, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Calum MacRae.