Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby admits this Friday’s clash with Ulster will be the acid test as they bid to close the gap on the RaboDirect PRO12 league leaders. Easterby’s troops travel to Ravenhill, looking for a first away win in Ulster since 2008, but they have been in impressive form on the road this term and boast a record bettered only by Friday’s opponents. Scarlets finished the festive period with one win – away to Cardiff Blues – and one defeat at the Ospreys and as result go into the top-of-the-table clash nine points adrift of Ulster. They have won just once in their last five encounters however and with a mounting injury list that includes long-term absentees Rhys Priestland and Jordan Williams, Easterby is only too aware of the task that awaits his side as they look to avenge their 19-12 defeat earlier this season. He said: “It's been a challenging and intense period of rugby for us December; it's been a pretty tough period in terms of the fixtures and how many away games we've had and January will be equally challenging with games away in Ulster, Leinster and then Clermont Auvergne at home in the Heineken Cup. “It hasn't been a great spell for us, however we're also mindful of what we've been up against. We're in a very tough Heineken Cup group and that we've had a number of away games against very good opposition including two big Welsh derbies. “We've had a few additional days over the New Year without a game to be able to focus and reflect in some more depth – looking back on our European performances and our two Welsh derbies. That's been important given the scale and significance of what's ahead of us now. “Ulster have an impressive record at home and they are bringing back their top players in front of a home crowd after resting a big group last weekend.” Easterby has made nine changes to the side that lost out to the Ospreys with Dan Newton coming in at full-back, Gareth Maule in the centres and Tavis Knoyle at scrum-half. In the forwards Emyr Phillips and Jacobie Adriaanse come into the front row while Sione Timani and Richard Kelly form a new-look second row and Johnathan Edwards and Rob McCusker join Josh Turnbull in the back row. Ulster, meanwhile, has recalled the big guns after a youthful side lost to Munster last time out – their first league defeat of the season – and made eight changes. In the back-line, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Jackson and Ruan Pienaar all return to the starting XV after missing the trip to Limerick. Rob Herring and Adam Macklin are retained in the front row, while Tom Court starts at loosehead. Dan Tuohy makes his first start after recovering from a torn calf muscle and joins Lewis Stevenson in the second-row. And Chris Henry will captain Ulster and starts at openside, with Robbie Diack at blindside and Nick Williams at No.8. "It couldn't be any better at the start of the new year, first against second," Henry told the Irish Independent. "I suppose it will be a good time to meet them after their big defeat against the Ospreys and they will be hurting. "They will be desperate to get the points and obviously we will be desperate to keep or extend the nine-point lead at the top. "We have to try and get a bit of momentum. We are back at Ravenhill, the crowd will be out in force, and there has been a lot of talk of where we are at present, and the players are loving it. "But we need to win the game at home and that will lead us – with a positive frame of mind – into Europe. But first things first. "Last week, even in defeat, we had more players putting their hands up wanting to be in the squad, so I just hope we get it together and produce a good performance.” At Ravenhill, 7.05pm. Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 24th competition game) Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU) Live on BBC NI
