Jared Payne claims Ulster have painted a target on their own backs following their unbeaten start to this RaboDirect PRO12 season – but ahead of the trip to Zebre he insists he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Zebre and Ulster’s seasons couldn’t be further apart – the Italians having lost all seven RaboDirect PRO12 games so far this campaign while Ulster have only ever tasted victory.

And things don’t look like slowing down for the UIstermen any time soon with them only having lost to Italian opposition once – against Treviso in October last year.

However ahead of this first meeting between the two sides centre Payne insists no one at Ulster is taking anything for granted, with everybody else vying for their head.

"Every time you come up against a team that is unbeaten, you want to be the team to knock them off," said Payne.

"Slightly weaker team are going to have to take more chances to do that. Better teams will be more prepared – it will be a challenge but that is part and parcel of it, you would rather be the team everyone wants to knock off rather than the team down at the bottom.

"It will be good for us."

Ulster props Tom Court and Declan Fitzpatrick were released from international duty by Declan Kidney and take their places on the bench for Mark Anscombe’s side.

However Anscombe is missing Paul Marshall and Ruan Pienaar through international action and has replaced them with Michael Heaney and Niall O’Connor.

Michael Allen returns to the team for the first time since picking up an ankle injury against Cardiff in September, meaning Chris Cochrane switching from the right to left wing.

Zebre make just two changes from their clash with Scarlets with Leandro Sarto starting on the right wing, meaning Alessandro Castagnoli switches to the left.

At Stadio XXV Aprile, 3pm local time (2pm UK & Ireland).
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 44th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Matteo Liperini, Stefano Penne (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Achille Reali (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)

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