Confident Italians will be met by Lions in Belfast

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Bowe was given the go-ahead after he proved he was fully recovered from wrist surgery earlier this month and is one of seven changes to the side that defeated Connacht 18-7 last weekend and one of 11 internationals in the starting side.

As expected, Ireland winger Craig Gilroy gets a run-out at full-back, a position he has occupied before, with Jared Payne wearing the No 13 jersey with Luke Marshall his inside midfield partner. Paul Marshall is back at scrum-half while up front, Best, who will captain the side, is joined by Ricky Lutton and Tom Court in the front row with Robbie Diack at blindside. Roger Wilson and openside Chris Henry make up the back row. Dan Tuohy comes in for rested skipper Johann Muller to partner Iain Henderson at lock.

Best, meanwhile, gets his first taste of real competitive action since the Lions tour when he will be given at least 40 minutes at Ravenhill.

“Treviso have a fairly good record at Ravenhill in recent years, so they’ll not come here with any fears,” said Best.

“Okay, they have come off the back of a good win last week against Munster, but we have to remind them they have travelled a long distance to play at Ravenhill. It’s a tough place to play. The first 10 minutes, we need to make them aware of that. That’s always done up front.”

ULSTER: C Gilroy; T Bowe, J Payne, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, R Best, capt, R Lutton, I Henderson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson.

Replacements: R Herring, C Black, B Ross, L Stevenson, N Williams, M Heaney, J McKinney, D Cave.