The starting XV for the the Heineken Cup opener at Ravenhill shows just two changes from the side which defeated Glasgow last weekend.

Ian Humphreys comes in at out-half to replace Niall O'Connor and makes his first start of the season while the only other change in personnel is in the second row, where Tim Barker starts this week ahead of Dan Tuohy who is named on the bench.

Prop BJ Botha, who sustained a wrist injury against Connacht in Round 4 of the Magners League, was named in the extended squad but suffered a set-back earlier in the week and has consequently not been included.

Ulster kick off against Aironi at 7.30pm this Friday night at Ravenhill. Gates open at 6pm and tickets will be available to purchase on the night. 

This will be the first experience of the Heineken Cup for Ulster's new South African contingent of Johann Muller, Ruan Pienaar and Pedrie Wannenburg and they're looking forward to the experience;

"I've followed it (the Heineken Cup) for the past five or six years from South Africa" said Muller, who has captained Ulster in the absence of Rory Best this season.

"It's a wonderful tournament with a great history and tradition attached to it"

"I know it's going to be a different intensity to what we have seen so far but I'm ready for that"

"When it's time to step up you've got to lift your performance in order to cope with the increased physicality and speed of the game at that higher level"

"The Heineken Cup is a big occasion for everyone and just as I hope the supporters will see a big difference in the level of our performance, so I think we will see a difference in the intensity of the support"

ULSTER (15-9): Jamie Smith; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar (1-8) Bryan Young, Rory Best (Captain), Tom Court, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack

Replacements (16-23) Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Alan Whitten, Dan Tuohy, Willie Faloon, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, David McIlwaine