Ulster v Edinburgh: Teams
The return of Stephen Ferris to Ulster's starting line-up against Edinburgh sees captain Chris Henry switch to number eight.
Last Updated: 04/10/09 6:29pm
The return of Stephen Ferris to Ulster's starting line-up for the home clash with Edinburgh sees captain Chris Henry switch to number eight.
Ferris will make his first competitive appearance since injury cut short his British and Irish Lions tour when the two teams clash at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Henry's move results in Robbie Diack dropping to the bench, while Neil McComb steps in to the second row in place of the injured Dan Tuohy.
Having been rested for last weekend's encouraging away victory over the Ospreys, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace have to settle for places on the replacements bench.
Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin has urged his team to maintain their level of performance, stating: "We came out all guns blazing last weekend against the Ospreys, and performed very well. We must play like this time and time again, maintaining that level of play and driving it forward.
"Our defence was good, our set pieces were strong, our passing was more accurate and our finishing was clinical."
Three changes for Edinburgh
McLaughlin's Edinburgh counterpart, Rob Moffat, has made three changes to the team that ran in eight tries against Connacht last week.
Hooker Ross Ford, prop Kyle Traynor and winger Tim Visser have all secured starting berths, British and Irish Lions hooker Ford replacing Andrew Kelly in the front row where he will line up alongside Scotland 'A' internationalist Traynor, who takes over at loosehead from Allan Jacobsen.
Visser gets the nod ahead of Andrew Turnbull while scrum-half Greig Laidlaw retains the number nine jersey ahead of first team captain, Mike Blair.
In Blair's absence, Allister Hogg continues to skipper the side while lock Steve Turnbull returns to the squad with a spot amongst the replacements.
Ulster: 15 Clinton Schifcofske, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Ian Whitten, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss; 1 Bryan Young, 2 Andi Kyriacou, 3 Brendon Botha, 4 Neil McComb, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 6 Stephen Ferris, 7 Willie Faloon, 8 Chris Henry (capt)
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tamiati Horua, Robbie Diack, Cillian Willis, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble
Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Mark Robertson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 John Houston, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Greig Laidlaw; 1 Kyle Traynor, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Geoff Cross, 4 Craig Hamilton, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Alan MacDonald, 7 Roddy Grant, 8 Allister Hogg (captain)
Replacements: Andrew Kelly, Allan Jacobsen, Steve Turnbull, Scott Newlands, Mike Blair, Steve Jones, Nick De Luca