Ulster will be more than aware that they have to record a bonus point win over Italians Aironi if they are serious about mounting a real challenge and qualifying from Pool Four.
The Belfast-based outfit face the Italian new boys, who recorded one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history when they beat Biarritz last season, in the first of their back-to-back clashes.
Aironi are in only their second season of Heineken Cup rugby and have still to win a game on the road, but will be looking to cause another major upset when they arrive in Ravenhill.
Ulster, who beat Clermont Auvergne in the Pool opener and lost to the Leicester Tigers in round two, will be aiming to qualify for a second successive Heineken Cup quarterfinal place in two years.
The home side have won their last nine games in the Heineken Cup at Ravenhill and will also be looking to build on that impressive home record when Aironi visit on Friday night.
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Adam D'Arcy, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Nevin Spence, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Johann Muller (c), 3 John Afoa, 2 Rory Best, 1 Paddy McAllister.
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Tom Court, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Robbie Diack, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Stefan Terblanche.
Aironi: 15 Giiulio Toniolatti , 14 Sinoti Sinoti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Gabriel Pizarro, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Tito Tebaldi, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Josh Sole, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Nicola Cattina, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Carlo del Fava, 3 Lorenzo Romano, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini,
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice , 17 Alberto de Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Filippo Ferrarini, 21 Giorgio Bronzini, 22 Naas Olivier, 23 Gilberto Pavan.
Date: Friday, 9 December
Venue: Ravenhill
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
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