Assistant coach Neil Doak insists Ulster will not underestimate Treviso as they visit Ravenhill in search of a second consecutive Irish scalp.

Treviso upset Munster last weekend with a 29-19 win to pick up their first victory of the new RaboDirect PRO12 campaign after their ill-discipline hosts saw four players sent to the sin bin.

Ulster grabbed their first win of the season as well, sinking Connacht 18-7, and welcome a Treviso side that has won just one of its last eight away games.

The Irish region are seeking to prevent successive home defeats for the first time since April 2010 after Glasgow Warriors triumphed 13-12 at Ravenhill earlier this season.

Doak is expecting a tough challenge to maintain that record and he has his eye on one or two Treviso players capable of spoiling Ulster’s evening.

“They’re a pretty smart side and they’re very intricate with their lineout plays and they’ve got a physical pack especially in their back row,” he told the Irish Times.

“They’ve got Brendan Williams and other good runners and they’ve got some kicking options as well with Mat Berquist so we know they’re a pretty decent side and they’re coming here with a purpose.

“They rush hard defensively and try and limit your time and space. We’re under no illusions this weekend and it’s going to be a very tough game.

“We’ve got to match their physicality and we’ve got to be on our toes for any of their intricate little line-out plays, and patterns, to limit their platform to attack off.”

Ulster will take confidence from the fact that defeat to Treviso in October 2011 is their only loss in 20 encounters with Italian opposition in all competitions.

But the three previous clashes between the two sides at Ravenhill throw up an even picture – they have one win apiece with the third ending in a draw.

However, there are positives for the hosts, as British & Irish Lions Tommy Bowe and Rory Best are set to return to RaboDirect PRO12 action and Craig Gilroy starts at full-back after coming off the bench last weekend.

And Gilroy said: “It is good to be back. It seems like a lifetime since I played and I was really excited – indeed nervous as well – about getting the Ulster jersey back on.

“I was a bit anxious last weekend with just coming back after such a long time. It is now about polishing the performance week in and out.”

At Ravenhill Stadium, 7.05pm.
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 10th competition game)
Assistant Referees: K Barry, B MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)

LIVE on BBC NI