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Chris Henry
Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on Â鶹Éç Two NI

"Connacht have been on a tough run recently. For Ulster, it has been amazing to see how one win has changed the atmosphere in the squad. There was an air of relief when they got their big win and they will be hoping they can carry that momentum into this game."

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland says silverware remains his side's biggest goal this season but insists he will not judge himself solely on trophies.

Irish international Mack Hansen missed last weekend’s game through injury but is back in the Connacht team at full-back.

There are seven changes to the starting team that faced Saracens last weekend. Denis Buckley, Tadgh McElroy, and Finlay Bealham come into the front row.

Joe Joyce comes in to partner Darragh Murray in the second row while in the back row, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean O’Brien are in.

15. Mack Hansen 14. Shayne Bolton 13. Tom Farrell 12. Bundee Aki 11. Byron Ralston 10. Jack Carty 9. Caolin Blade 1. Denis Buckley 2. Tadgh McElroy 3. Finlay Bealham 4. Darragh Murray 5. Joe Joyce 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton 8. Sean O’Brien

16. Dave Heffernan 17. Peter Dooley 18. Jack Aungier 19. Gavin Thornbury 20. Conor Oliver 21. Michael McDonald 22. JJ Hanrahan 23. Shane Jennings

Ulster have made six changes from the Champions Cup win over Racing 92 for Friday's United Rugby Championship home game against Connacht.

With hooker Rob Herring ruled out by injury, coach Dan McFarland names an entirely new front row as Andy Warwick, Tom Stewart and Marty Moore all start.

Kieran Treadwell replaces Alan O'Connor at lock with Sean Reffell drafted into the back row in place of Dave Ewers.

The sole backs change has Jake Flannery in at fly-half for Billy Burns.

After starting in the stirring European win, South Africa's double World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff and fellow prop Tom O'Toole drop to a replacements bench which also includes O'Connor, Ewers and Will Addison

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Image source, Inpho

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There's an extra bit of spice to tonight's interprovincial derby with Ulster aiming to avenge their defeat to Connacht in Galway last month.

The sides return to URC action after contrasting fortunes in the Champions Cup last weekend.

Ulster impressed in beating Racing 92 at their Kingspan Stadium home while Connacht shipped 55 points in losing out to Saracens.

Both teams lost on their last two URC outings and will be determined to reinvogorate their league campaigns.

Just a point seperates the sides with Ulster narrowly ahead in seventh.

It promises to be a Christmas cracker! Thanks for joining us.