Whitten to start against Clermont

Ulster have made just one change for their 100th game in the Heineken Cup, with Ian Whitten coming in to replace injured centre Darren Cave for the vital Pool 4 match against Clermont Auvergne in the Stade Marcel Michelin tomorrow (4.40pm).

Brian McLaughlin has had consistency in selection over recent weeks but the loss of Cave is a big blow for Ulster ahead of tomorrow’s massive encounter.

The Ulster coach can also call on Nevin Spence, who has returned from injury to take a place on the bench.

Johann Muller will once again lead an all-international pack, while Stefan Terblanche gets the nod over Adam D’Arcy at fullback.

Apart from the inclusion of Spence, the only other change among the replacements is Andi Kyriacou coming in for Nigel Brady. The hooker will earn his 50th cap for the Province if he gets any time on the pitch.

Attack coach Neil Doak refuses to look beyond tomorrow’s contest. "This weekend is all about clearing the next hurdle in our progression,” he said.

“It was great to reach the quarter-finals last year and be highly competitive against Northampton Saints, but the game in Clermont is much bigger than last year's quarter-final.

"We've got to go and get the monkey off our back by winning in France for the first time and we want to put ourselves in with a chance of a home draw in the last eight.

“Munster and Leinster are already there and it would be great for Irish rugby if we had three provinces in the quarter-finals for the first time.

“We have been building nicely towards this game and the players all know how important it is."

Ulster (v Clermont): S Terblanche; A Trimble, I Whitten, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg.

Replacements: A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, P Marshall, N Spence, A D’Arcy

Unavailable due to injury: Jared Payne (achilles), Declan Fitzpatrick (neck), Peter Nelson (knee), Darren Cave (foot)