Ulster v Edinburgh: Teams

Ulster have named their side to face Edinburgh in a vital Heineken Cup Pool Four fixture at Ravenhill on Friday.

The game, billed as Ulster's most important European game since their victory in the competition in 1999, will enable the winners to pressure pool leaders Stade Francais.

The home side have made two changes to the XV that recorded victory over Munster in the Magners League.

In the backs, Darren Cave partners Paddy Wallace in the centres, in place of Ian Whitten. In the pack, David Pollock starts as openside flanker, replacing the injured Willie Faloon.

On the replacements bench, Bryan Young is named as the additional front row replacement.

"When you're playing Edinburgh you have to realise how competitive they are, they're very aggressive around the breakdown," Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin said.

"Their defence is strong, and to beat them you have to be patient, you have to hold on to the ball.

"The players are all ready to go; they all love to play in the Heineken Cup. To have Edinburgh at home at this stage, well it's just a really huge game from that point of view.

"The fact that qualification is still within our grasp makes it an even bigger game, and the players know that. I'm very hopeful we'll get a top class performance out of them on Friday night."

Meanwhile, Edinburgh have named their strongest line-up for the match - the two sides currently being locked on nine points apiece, four behind Stade.

Captained by Chris Paterson, the Scots possess a powerful front-row of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and David Young, while Jim Hamilton and Scott MacLeod link up at lock.

Ulster: 15 Jamie Smith, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Chris Henry (capt), 7 David Pollock, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Ed O'Donoghue, 4 Dan Tuohy, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Nigel Brady, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Ryan Caldwell, 20 TJ Anderson, 21 Cillian Willis, 22 Niall O'Connor, 23 Timoci Nagusa.

Edinburgh: 15 Chris Paterson (capt), 14 Jim Thompson, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 John Houston, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Roddy Grant, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Scott Newlands, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Scott MacLeod, 3 Davey Young, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Craig Hamilton, 20 David Callam, 21 Ross Samson, 22 Nick De Luca, 23 Mark Robertson.