Scarlets head coach Simon Easterby believes he has the armoury at his disposal to strike fear into all other sides in the RaboDirect PRO12 – challenging his side to show it against Ulster on Friday. The Scarlets head to Belfast to face Ulster, who finished top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table, for a first ever semi-final, having finished in fifth place in the last two seasons. They limped over the line however, going down to a thumping 41-17 defeat on home soil at the hands of Treviso and had to rely on Leinster beating Ospreys to end up in the top four. Scarlets have not won at Ravenhill since the 2008/9 season and they have lost five of their last six matches against Ulster, including both times this season – going down 47-17 in the away fixture. But prior to their defeat by Treviso, they had won their last five RaboDirect PRO12 matches and having finally reached the semi-finals, Easterby has called on his side to play without fear. “We have played some good rugby to get ourselves to this position and some strong winning rugby at places we were not expected to win at and that's our focus going into this game,” he said. “We've used last Friday as a motivator to produce the sort of performance you'd expect from a top four side and from the Scarlets jersey. “We have plenty to face in coming up against Ulster. They have been pretty much unbeatable this season and they are in the driving seat at home. “What we have to bring is our commitment, ambition and desire to win. That has to be in body as well as mind and shown in our work rate and intensity on the field. “Sides will be threatened by the players we put on the park, there's a good mix in our team and we know the quality that key Scarlets players can bring to our performance. “We'll have a good travelling support out there who will get behind us and make their voices heard. We want to give them a performance they can really cheer about after the disappointment of our final home game. “It's going to be a huge night for us as Scarlets – we have this opportunity in front of us now and we'll give it everything we have.” Scarlets have made two changes to the side that lost to Treviso with Rhys Priestland making his long-awaited return to a fearsome backline that also boasts British & Irish Lions Jonathan Davies and George North, having made two appearances off the bench. Ulster, making their first play-off appearance in two years, have lost just one of their last six RaboDirect PRO12 matches and head coach Mark Anscombe has made four personnel changes to the side that downed Cardiff Blues to rubber-stamp their hold on top spot. Ireland internationals Paddy Jackson, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick and Dan Tuohy all return to the side, while Ruan Pienaar switches to scrum-half. "(Scarlets) have worked hard all year and they've earned the right to be in the semi-final," Anscombe told the Irish Independent. "Past performances and games against them count for nothing. It will be down to whichever team takes their chances and goes about their work in the right way. "Certainly there has been a good attitude in training this week. You can feel the buzz and the positive attitude. The players are excited and that's what you want. "It's not about changing anything; it's about keeping our focus and emptying the tank. If we do that, we have a good chance of making the final." At Ravenhill, 7.45pm. Live on BBC NI/RTE/S4C Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 58th competition game) Assistant Referees: Andrew McMenemy, Adrian Graves (both SRU) Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (SRU) TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
