**In-form Ulster will look to continue their push for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series on Saturday when they welcome the Isuzu Southern Kings to the Kingspan Stadium.** Dan McFarland’s men are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions and with Scarlets and Edinburgh giving chase, will need to beat their Conference B rivals from South Africa to hold onto third spot. What’s at stake? The Kings have never beaten the Ulstermen in three previous meetings, the Irish side could do with this record continuing as they aim to catch Benetton in their close battle for the home quarter-final spot in Conference B. Ulster have not lost in six games whilst the Southern Kings have not won in four. Team news (Ulster) There are five personnel changes to the team that managed a bonus point win away to Dragons earlier this month. Four of the new faces are up front, with loosehead prop Andy Warwick, lock Ian Nagle and back rows Matty Rea and Marcell Coetzee introduced to the starting pack. Coetzee will make a welcome return from injury, having not featured since January’s decisive Champions Cup defeat of Leicester at Welford Road. Rob Herring and Marty Moore will join Warwick in the front row, while captain Alan O’Connor partners Nagle in the second row. Nick Timoney, so impressive at Rodney Parade in his last outing, is named as the other loose forward. The only alteration to the backline is at scrumhalf, with Dave Shanahan coming in to partner Billy Burns at half back. Team news (Isuzu Southern Kings) Head coach Deon Davids has opted for consistency as he makes only a few changes to the team that last ran out for the Isuzu Southern Kings when they took on Cardiff Blues in Wales earlier this month. No.8 Ruaan Lerm is back in the starting lineup as he takes the place of Andisa Ntsila, who will provide loose-forward cover from the bench this week. The only other change is at scrum-half where Stefan Ungerer returns to the starting XV, replacing the injured Sarel Pretorius. The only new addition to the match-day 23 is the return of Harlon Klaasen to the team. The centre will provide midfield cover from the bench, in a rotational switch with Berton Klaasen, who has been rested this week. Talking points Kings head coach Deon Davids: “We are expecting rainy and muddy conditions over in Belfast. It is very cold this time of the season in Ireland. So, underfoot it will be a bit slippery which will make the conditions a bit challenging. “Looking back at our last tour, we will have to revisit how we approach it – the way we play our rugby in our back 50, and what we want to achieve in our front 50. I think the guys are starting to understand the importance of having a good mindset and minimising our mistakes.” Key battle – Bjorn Basson v Robert Baloucoune Experience meets youth on the wing on Saturday in Belfast. Former Springbok flyer Bjorn Basson is a key attacking outlet for the Kings who are chasing their first win on the road this season. But Ulster have a jet-heeled flyer of their own in Robert Baloucoune. The Academy prospect has burst into the first team this season and impressed both domestically and in Europe. With Jacob Stockdale rested after his travails with Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations, expect Baloucoune to carry the main threat out wide for the Ulstermen. Key stat The Kings are still without a win on the road since they joined the Guinness PRO14 at the start of last season. Did you know? The Ulstermen have lost just once at Kingspan Stadium in any tournament in the last thirteen months: 22-15 to Connacht in round six of the Guinness PRO14. Ulster: Louis Ludik; Robert Baloucoune, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle; Billy Burns, Dave Shanahan; Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor ©, Ian Nagle, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Marcell Coetzee; Replacements: John Andrew, Wiehahn Herbst, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Clive Ross, John Cooney, Michael Lowry, Angus Kernohan. Isuzu Southern Kings: Ulrich Beyers, Yaw Penxe, Meli Rokoua, Tertius Kruger, Bjorn Basson, Bader Pertorius, Stefan Ungerer, Alulutho Tshakweni, Michael Willemse, De-Jay Terblanche, Andries Van Schalkwyk, John-Charles Astle ©, Henry Brown, Martinus Burger, Ruann Lerm Replacements: Alandre Van Rooyen, Schalk Ferreira, Lupumlo Mguca, Stephan Greeff, Andisa Ntsila, Rudi Van Rooyen, Masixole Banda, Harlon Klaasen TV: At Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, 5.30pm. Live on Premier Sports Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU, 28th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Graeme Ormiston (both SRU) TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU) Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
