**Benetton are arguably the form side in the Guinness PRO14, with four consecutive wins in the league shooting them up to third in Conference B.** Their domestic form has carried into Europe, as they have lost only once in their last eight matches in all competitions. But Ulster are fearsome at home, losing only one game at the Kingspan Stadium since February last year. It will be a welcome return to Belfast on Friday night for Dan MacFarland’s men, having lost their last two league matches on their travels against Leinster and Connacht. What’s at stake? Both sides are part of the chasing pack behind Leinster in Conference B, along with Edinburgh Rugby and Scarlets. The cluster of teams are all within two points, with Edinburgh in second on 35 and Ulster in fifth on 33, so any result could see the teams reshuffle their positions as they look to hunt down the Guinness PRO14 champions. Team news (Ulster): There are two personnel changes to Ulster backline from last Saturday’s 13-14 comeback win against Leicester Tigers in the European Champions Cup, as academy players Michael Lowry and James Hume are installed at full-back and outside centre respectively. Another academy player, Robert Baloucoune, who scored the match-winning try at Welford Road, is again selected on the right wing. Up front, Alan O’Connor takes over the captaincy from Rory Best and he will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row. Andy Warwick and Rob Herring join Marty Moore in the front row, while there are three new faces in the back row as Ian Nagle, Nick Timoney and Greg Jones have earned call ups. ULSvBEN – I Leoni scelti dallo staff tecnico biancoverde per la trasferta a Belfast contro l’Ulster 💥 📺 Gara in diretta su @DAZN_IT pic.twitter.com/gasAmH2L6u — Benetton Rugby 🦁 (@BenettonRugby) January 24, 2019 Team news (Benetton Rugby): Full-back will be Luca Sperandio, with Ratuva Tavuyara and Monty Ioane on the wings, while Tommaso Iannone and Marco Zanon will be the centres. The half-backs are Dewaldt Duvenage at scrum-half and captain Ian McKinley at fly-half. The front row will consist of Nicola Quaglio, Hame Faiva and Marco Riccioni with the pairing of Irné Herbst and Federico Ruzza at lock. Finally, the back row sees Marco Lazzaroni, Michele Lamaro and Toa Halafihi completing the XV chosen by Kieran Crowley. Talking points Ulster head coach Dan MacFarland said: “We are fifth in our conference and two of the European Champions Cup quarter finalists are ahead of us. “We’ve won seven games and drawn one yet we are sitting fifth. This weekend is hugely important for this club. “The players, the staff and the fans understand that. We have to get everything right in our preparation. “Benetton are a good side on the up and they have shown a steel in defence which puts them among the top sides in the league defensively. They will challenge our attack. “Also they have a lot of big players, so coming here it will be physical and a real test for us.” 🎬 Dan Mcfarland on… 👊 Quarter finals 👏 Your support 🏉 @BenettonRugby pic.twitter.com/vClFCOYqv8 — Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 21, 2019 Key battle: Billy Burns v Ian McKinley Both fly-halves will be looking to orchestrate their backline to success in Belfast, with Burns making an impression on the province since joining in the summer. It included a crucial five points with the boot as Ulster took a 15-10 win in the reverse fixture in November. McKinley takes the starting jersey at ten for the fourth time in the domestic competition this season, having usually featured off the bench behind Tommaso Allan. He has proved a more than capable deputy, guiding the Italian side to wins over Isuzu Southern Kings and Zebre last month. Key stat: Ulster have won the last five matches between the two sides, but never by more than 12 points. The last three encounters have all finished within seven points. Did you know? Benetton are the only Italian side to have ever beaten Ulster in Belfast. They took a victory in October 2011, when they had a 23-12 triumph on the back of 18 points from Kris Burton. Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, Dave Shanahan; Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor ©, Kieran Treadwell, Ian Nagle, Nick Timoney, Greg Jones Replacements: John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Tom O’Toole, Matthew Dalton, Clive Ross, Jonny Stewart, Darren Cave, Rob Lyttle Benetton Rugby: Luca Sperandio, Ratuva Tavuyara, Tommaso Iannone, Marco Zanon, Monty Ioane, Ian McKinley ©, Dewaldt Duvenage; Nicola Quaglio, Hame Faiva, Marco Riccioni, Irné Herbst, Federico Ruzza, Marco Lazzaroni, Michele Lamaro, Toa Halafihi Replacements: Tomas Baravalle, Cherif Traore, Simone Ferrari, Marco Fuser, Giovanni Pettinelli, Marco Barbini, Edoardo Gori, Ignacio Brex Kingspan Stadium, kick-off 7.35pm TV: Live on DAZN (7.35pm) and Freesports (7pm) Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU) AR1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) AR2: Rhys Jones (WRU) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
