Mark Anscombe has made five changes to his side for tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 game against Connacht, at The Sportsground.

Jared Payne is back from injury and starts the game at full-back, while the trio of Christ Henry, Paddy Jackson and Andrew Trimble – all of whom were rested for last week’s meeting with Dragons – also come back into the starting fifteen.

The final personnel change sees Lewis Stevenson start in the second row, with Iain Henderson on the bench.
There are two positional changes to go with the revised personnel list, as Tommy Bowe switches from right wing to left and Ruan Pienaar moves from out-half to scrum-half.
Johann Muller, returning from a bicep injury, and John Afoa are named on a strong bench.

Ulster sit atop the RaboDirect Pro12 table, but with a lead of just 3 points over second placed Leinster and 4 points between them and Glasgow Warriors they will go to Connacht knowing a win is imperative in their quest for a home semi-final.

Connacht have made no changes from the side that beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield last week.

Ulster XV to face Connacht

(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, S Olding, T Bowe, P Jackson, R Pienaar
(1-8): T Court, R Best (c), R Lutton, L Stevenson, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, N Williams

Replacements (16-23): R Herring, C Black, J Afoa, J Muller, I Henderson, P Marshall, M Allen, P Nelson.

Image: Ruan Pienaar switches to scrum half for Friday's game
©INPHO/Presseye/Darren Kidd