With both Leinster and Ulster qualified for the Guinness PRO14 Final Series, the head coaches have taken the opportunity to ring the changes when the sides meet on Saturday.

Dan McFarland and Leo Cullen have both made 15 changes to their respective Ulster and Leinster teams as the two Irish provincial sides prepare to go head to head at the Kingspan Stadium.

What’s at stake?

Both sides have a place in the Guinness PRO14 Final Series cemented, with Leinster runaway leaders in Conference B and Ulster guaranteed to finish behind them.

Ulster know they will be facing Connacht in their Semi-Final Qualifier while it still remains to be seen who Leinster will have to play in the last four.

Either way the main two things at stake in this game are momentum and bragging rights.

Team news (Ulster):

Darren Cave, who will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season, will captain the side from outside centre.

Back-row Marcus Rea will make his senior debut for the team if he’s called upon from the bench, meaning it could be a special day for the Rea family, with brother Matty set to start.

David Busby, who suffered a long-term knee injury in pre-season, is in line to make his first appearance of the season and will be joined in the back-three by academy players Michael Lowry and Angus Kernohan, who have made a combined total of 30 appearances to date this season.

Cave will partner Peter Nelson in midfield, with David Shanahan and Johnny McPhillips paired at half-back.

Meanwhile in the forwards, Andy Warwick, John Andrew and Ross Kane are selected in the front-row, with Ian Nagle and Alan O’Connor ready to offer support from the second-row. Matty Rea, Clive Ross and Sean Reidy complete the forward pack.

Team news (Leinster):

Ross Byrne will captain the province for the first time, starting in a half-back partnership with Nick McCarthy.

Five points against Ulster would see him surpass Alan McGowan on the all-time point scorers list (372).

Elsewhere in the back line, the experienced Dave Kearney and Fergus McFadden are selected on the wings with Jimmy O’Brien at full-back completing the back three.

Noel Reid and Joe Tomane are Leinster’s starting centre partnership while Jack McGrath, Bryan Byrne and Michael Bent have been selected in the Leinster front-row.

And Oisin Dowling will make his first senior start alongside Josh Murphy in the second-row.

Will Connors continues his return from an ACL injury to start in the back-row along with Max Deegan and Caelan Doris, who both came off the bench in last Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final victory over Toulouse.

Talking points:

Ulster flanker Nick Timoney said: “They beat us here last year which obviously we don’t like, and we need to get them back for that.

Dan McFarland, Ulster head coach, added: “It may not have the meaning where you need points to get to a certain position in the league, but it certainly has meaning in itself, given the history of both provinces and the fact that the players and supporters on both sides will want to win.

“Momentum is important, definitely, so we will give it our best shot. We know that no matter who they bring up, it will be a stern test for our squad. They’ve shown that they can rotate their players and still get the job done at home and away.”

Leinster forward Michael Bent: “Everyone is working very hard to put their hands up for selection.

“We have been a little bit off with a few things so there has been a big focus on players being very vocal and everyone talking and doing their role well and all the other bits that we have identified that we need to work hard on.”

Key battle: David Busby v Dave Kearney

Busby is somewhat of a surprise inclusion in the Ulster team after a knee injury suffered in pre-season ruled him out of every game up until now.

With no competitive rugby played this season, it remains to be seen how Busby will fair against the experience of Ireland international and Leinster stalwart Kearney.

Did you know: Leinster are winless in the last three rounds of the Guinness PRO14 but have not gone four matches without a victory since ²⁰¹⁴⁄₁₅.

Key stat: The Ulstermen have lost only once in Belfast in any tournament since February 2018, that was 15-22 to Connacht in round 6 of the Guinness PRO14.

Ulster: Michael Lowry, David Busby, Darren Cave, Peter Nelson, Angus Kernohan, Johnny McPhillips, Dave Shanahan, Andy Warwick, John Andrew, Ross Kane, Ian Nagle, Alan O’Connor, Matty Rea, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Tommy O’Hagan, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Marcus Rea, Jonny Stewart, Jack Owens, Rob Lyttle

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Fergus McFadden, Joe Tomane, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney, Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy, Jack McGrath, Bryan Byrne, Michael Bent, Josh Murphy, Oisín Dowling, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Caelan Doris.

Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Peter Dooley, Vakh Abdaladze, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Paddy Patterson, Ciaran Frawley, Barry Daly.

TV: At Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, KO 17.15. Live on Premier Sports, eir Sport, DAZN.

Referee: George Clancy

Assistant Referees : Joy Neville and Eddie Hogan-O’Connell

TMO: Leo Colgan