Simon Easterby’s side secured a 26-26 draw against Racing Metro two weeks ago in the Heineken Cup and followed that up with a 16-16 stalemate against Zebre last weekend. The Irish side will arrive in West Wales with a squad containing eight personnel changes and three positional switches to the team that recorded a bonus point win over Cardiff last Friday night .
The Scarlets have made six changes to their own side with seven members of the squad currently on international duty.
Gareth Owen returns to full fitness at full back, with a new centre partnership in with Gareth Maule and Adam Warren joining up in place of Jon Davies and Scott Williams. Jordan Williams returns to the wing after missing out in Italy with a minor shoulder sprain; Kirby Myhill gets a start at hooker with Ken Owens and Emyr Phillips away with Wales and Samson Lee returns to tight head prop after a two-week suspension.
In the back row, Josh Turnbull moves to seven with Sione Timani in at number eight with captain Rob McCusker still on the side-lines with a calf injury. Experienced prop Phil John will captain the side.
Easterby said: “The next few weeks hands important opportunities to many of our wider squad players who are energised and eager to prove themselves – particularly in front of a home crowd.
“It’s good for us to have such a big game this weekend at home on the back of a disappointing performance out in Italy last weekend and the players will be looking to settle the record books.
“We know we’ll have to be really accurate, Ulster are tough opponents and with the quality they have built into their side, they are still very competitive even during international phases in the season.
“They are very well-coached and have shown their ability in the last few weeks in Europe both home and away and still got a result against Cardiff Blues last time out following on from the highs of the previous weeks. That shows their class and we’re well aware of certain individuals in their team and what they bring.
“They have some real quality throughout the spine of their team and that depth becomes apparent now in the next few weeks; while the balance of some squads can be really disrupted with international call-ups.”
