Trips to Belfast are hard for any Guinness PRO14 side but for Wales’ fab four, victories are almost as rare as finding a needle in a haystack.

Ulster are unbeaten in their last 12 league home games, while the Welsh regions have collectively won just once in the Northern Ireland capital in the last six years.

And if history is unkind, the present is daunting. With 106 of them, points have flowed as easily as the River Lagan for Ulster this season and Dan McFarland’s side will fancy their chances of a third win in four.

However, history is often re-written and this is will be far from a stroll.

The Blues’ only win this season came on the road and, with players on their way back, they will be a major threat again.

Ulster have recalled full-back Will Addison for his first start of the season in one of five changes from the side that beat Isuzu Southern Kings two weeks ago.

Fly-half Billy Burns captains Ulster for the first time, while his half-back partner John Cooney makes his 49th Ulster appearance.

Nick Timoney has recovered from the hand injury he suffered in pre-season and will make his first appearance of the season from the bench.

For the Blues, captain Nick Williams will undoubtedly be motivated to show his old side just what they are missing, while wing Jason Harries makes his first appearance of the season. He replaces Owen Lane, who has been called up by the national side for their World Cup semi-final.

Centre Willis Halaholo is set for his 50th Guinness PRO14 appearance.

Kick-off Kingspan Stadium, Belfast | KO 19:35 UK

How to watch: Live on S4C, eir Sport 2, DAZN, Premier Sports 1

Players to watch out for: John Cooney (Ulster), Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues)

Few players in the Guinness PRO14 are more reliably consistent than John Cooney and the scrum-half will once again be a key cog in the Ulster wheel.

Meanwhile, Nick Williams will have a point to prove against his former side, with his rampaging runs likely to present a clear danger to the home side’s defence.

Key stat: The only Welsh region to have been victorious at Kingspan Stadium in the last six years was Scarlets in February 2016.

Ulster: Will Addison, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, James Hume, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns ©, John Cooney, Jack McGrath, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Bill Johnston, Matt Faddes

Cardiff Blues: Matthew Morgan; Jason Harries, Garyn Smith, Willis Halaholo, Aled Summerhill; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Brad Thyer, Liam Belcher, Scott Andrews, Josh Turnbull, Rory Thornton, Will Boyde, Olly Robinson, Nick Williams

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski, Keiron Assiratti, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lewis Jones, Jason Tovey, Harri Millard

Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales!

General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.