Solomons names side for crunch tie

Ulster Coach Alan Solomons today named his side for the winner-takes-all encounter with Llanelli at Ravenhill on Friday night.

A Celtic League quarter-final slot is the prize up for grabs, and Solomons is confident that his side can do the business.

"We've developed nicely as a team this season and we are positive going into this match. We've shown tremendous resiliance and character to pick ourselves up after defeat at Swansea and put ourselves back into contention and it's been a squad effort" said the coach.

Solomons has been forced to make a couple of changes due to the injuries that Johnny Bell (knee ligament) and Tyrone Howe (torn hamstring) sustained last week against Cardiff.

Youngster Scott Young starts in place of Howe who is expected to be sidelined for 3 months, and Adam Larkin fills the centre berth. Ryan Constable is named on the bench having recovered from the concussion he sustained against Caerphilly.

Jeremy Davidson was not available for selection this week. A scan on the leg that has been troubling him revealed some bleeding into the muscle which has calcified and will be removed tomorrow under local anaesthetic.

ULSTER (v Llanelli): B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, A Larkin, S Young; D Humphreys (Capt), N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson; G Longwell, M Blair; W Brosnihan, N McMillan, T McWhirter Replacements: S Best, P Shields, N McCullough, N Best; K Campbell, R Constable, S Coulter.