Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has called on his side to pay the best possible tribute to Nevin Spence on their return to RaboDirect PRO12 action with a win against Cardiff Blues.

Spence, along with his brother Graham and father Noel, passed away on September 15, in a tragic farming accident, with Ulster’s match against Zebre postponed as a result.

The Cardiff Arms Park encounter will mark the Northern Irish side’s return to action and Anscombe insists that Spence would have wanted the team to get back on to the pitch.

He said: “The lads feel comfortable around each other and they know they are among friends – it’s easier for them to be together.

“The support we have received from the rest of the rugby community is amazing.

“We respect everything that has happened but we have a job to do and we have to move on and perform well, as Nevin would have wanted.

“We must go to Cardiff and carry on with the job in hand.”

The match will also mark Tommy Bowe’s first game back in Ulster colours since his summer move from the Ospreys in one of five changes to the team which beat Munster last time out.

Bowe will start on the right wing in the only personnel change in the backline but up front there is a new second row partnership in Dan Tuohy and Neil McComb.

Iain Henderson and Chris Henry complete the changes coming into the back row for Stephen Ferris and Sean Doyle respectively.

Meanwhile, the Blues have made six changes to the side which beat Treviso last time out with Jason Tovey starting at fly-half.

Harry Robinson and Dafydd Hewitt both start in the three-quarters while Tau Filise comes in at tighthead prop.

James Down will pack down with Bradley Davies in his 100th appearance for the region.

And in the back row there is a positional switch with Robin Copeland moving to blindside to accommodate skipper Andries Pretorius.

Director of rugby Phil Davies admitted it would be a match played in tragic circumstances but has urged his team to put on a performance in memory of Spence.

He said: “Friday I think will be our sternest test against the Heineken Cup finalists.

“It’s going to be Ulster’s first game back since the tragic news they received a fortnight ago about Nevin Spence.

“We are paying due respect to the situation Ulster are in and how they feel by matching that emotion and that level of performance.

“Hopefully we will have a great game as a tribute to a great rugby player and a great Ulsterman.”

Davies added: “Bradley is one of the stalwarts of the Cardiff Blues and I’d like to congratulate him on reaching a landmark 100 games for the region.”

At Cardiff Arms Park, 7.05pm.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (IRFU, 11th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Nigel Owens, Ian Davies (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Richard Gwynn (WRU)
TMO: Neil Ballard (WRU)

Live on BBC Wales and BBC NI