ULSTER v EDINBURGH, Aviva Stadium, 5.45pm (live Sky Sports 1/HD1/BBC Radio Ulster MWNewstalk/highlights TG4)
Team News: The Ulster team to face Edinburgh in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium has been named, with Chris Henry missing out through injury and Paddy Jackson starting at out-half.
Henry has been ruled out of the Celtic clash after failing to recover from an ankle sprain picked up in last weekend's RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster.
Ulster's other injury concerns Paddy Wallace, Pedrie Wannenburg and Paul Marshall have all been passed fit, with the latter named among the replacements.
Forwards Stephen Ferris, Dan Tuohy and Rory Best are back in the starting line-up after being rested for the Leinster game.
Ferris is a direct replacement for Henry in the back row, so Willie Faloon retains his place at openside flanker.
Nigel Brady drops to the bench for the return of Best, while Lewis Stevenson makes way for Tuohy in the second row. After impressing last Friday in his first game in five months, Declan Fitzpatrick will start again at tighthead prop.
Brian McLaughlin has named an unchanged back-line for Saturday's crucial game, meaning that Jackson gets the nod over Ian Humphreys at out-half.
The Ireland Under-20 captain produced an accomplished display at inside centre against Connacht two weeks ago, before controlling affairs in the number 10 jersey in the home defeat to Leinster.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh boss Michael Bradley has kept faith with the same starting line-up that toppled Toulouse at the quarter-final stage.
The former Ireland international rested a number of players for last weekend's trip to Cardiff and has reverted to a refreshed and readied version of the side that made history in front of a 38,000-strong crowd at Murrayfield earlier this month.
Lock Steven Turnbull's selection on the replacements bench instead of Stuart McInally is the only change to the 23-man matchday squad.
McInally has been unable to recover from the hamstring strain he sustained a fortnight ago against Leinster so Turnbull, who returned from an ankle injury last weekend, earns a squad spot for the biggest match in the Scottish club's history.
ULSTER: Stefan Terblanche; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Tom Court, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Lewis Stevenson, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Adam D'Arcy.
EDINBURGH: Tom Brown; Lee Jones, Nick De Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser; Greig Laidlaw (capt), Mike Blair; Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Sean Cox, Grant Gilchrist, David Denton, Ross Rennie, Netani Talei.
Replacements: Andrew Kelly, Kyle Traynor, Jack Gilding, Steven Turnbull, Roddy Grant, Chris Leck, Phil Godman, Jim Thompson.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Jerome Garces, Pascal Gauzere (both France)
Television Match Official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ulster to win: 4/11; Draw: 22/1; Edinburgh to win: 5/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Brian McLaughlin (Ulster) - "Nobody wants to miss an occasion like this. These kind of games don't come around too often; it's been 13 years since we've had a game this big. It really wasn't easy selecting the squad this week.
"It's a huge blow for us. He (Chris Henry) has probably been our most consistent player this season, probably over the past few seasons.
"I suppose we are fortunate in a way to have a player like Willie (Faloon) to come in. He is vastly experienced and will put everything into his performance on Saturday.
"Edinburgh are one of the form teams in Europe. They beat Toulouse, one of the kingpins of the competition, and you have to respect them for that.
"They have a great spine, their pack is full of internationals and they have an excellent back row. They have international half backs who are very good at controlling the game so it will be a big challenge for us. They are not going to fear coming to the Aviva.
"Paddy has come in over the last few weeks and done exceptionally well. His performances have warranted selection.
"It's a very tough call on Ian (Humphreys) who has been exceptional for us over the past couple of seasons, but we felt Paddy deserved a shot."
Michael Bradley (Edinburgh) - "The size of the occasion and the backing from fans has not been lost on the players. They take great pride in representing Edinburgh Rugby and know how much it means to the supporters to be at this stage in the competition.
"Saturday's match will be a huge test. The hype, the intensity, the crowd, and the fact that we're away from home all have a bearing on the size of the challenge.
"On top of those elements are, of course, our opponents, Ulster. They are one of the in-form sides in Europe and will take great confidence from their two league wins over us already this season, on top of their away win over Munster in the quarter-final.
"Our form in this competition is such that we can rightly approach this match with a lot of confidence. The character and resolve of the players has been well tested in this competition and we have prevailed.
"It's a one-off game and the underdog tag is one we wear well as a team. Edinburgh Rugby have shown that we are force to be reckoned with on big occasions and are relishing our first semi-final in this competition."
Current Form - Ulster - (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 28-14 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 25-19 away to Aironi Rugby; Won 20-3 at home to the Cardiff Blues; Lost 32-14 away to the Ospreys; Lost 22-9 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 23-12 at home to Benetton Treviso; Lost 24-17 away to the Scarlets; Won 22-3 at home to Connacht; (Heineken Cup): Won 16-11 at home to Clermont Auvergne; Lost 20-9 away to Leicester Tigers; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 17-9 away to Glasgow Warriors; Won 24-17 at home to the Scarlets; (Heineken Cup): Won 31-10 at home to Aironi Rugby; Won 46-20 away to Aironi Rugby; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 42-13 away to Leinster; Won 33-17 at home to Munster; Won 42-20 away to Edinburgh; (Heineken Cup): Won 41-7 at home to Leicester Tigers; Lost 19-15 away to Clermont Auvergne; (RaboDirect PRO12): Won 30-12 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 21-14 away to the Cardiff Blues; Won 15-14 at home to the Ospreys; Won 38-16 at home to Edinburgh; Won 27-23 away to Benetton Treviso; Won 45-7 at home to Aironi Rugby; (Heineken Cup quarter-final): Won 22-16 away to Munster; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 26-21 away to Connacht; Lost 16-8 at home to Leinster
Edinburgh - (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 38-15 at home to the Cardiff Blues; Lost 29-16 away to the Ospreys; Won 19-14 at home to Connacht; Lost 25-19 away to Aironi Rugby; Won 29-14 at home to Munster; Lost 33-17 away to the Scarlets; Lost 36-28 at home to Leinster; Won 22-11 away to Benetton Treviso; (Heineken Cup): Won 20-19 away to London Irish; Won 48-47 at home to Racing Metro 92; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 34-17 away to Munster; Won 50-10 at home to Aironi Rugby; (Heineken Cup): Lost 25-8 away to the Cardiff Blues; Won 19-12 at home to the Cardiff Blues; (RaboDirect PRO12): Drew 23-23 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Lost 17-12 away to Glasgow Warriors; Lost 42-20 at home to Ulster; (Heineken Cup): Won 27-24 away to Racing Metro 92; Won 34-11 at home to London Irish; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 15-14 at home to the Ospreys; Lost 21-10 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 23-13 away to Connacht; Lost 38-16 away to Ulster; Lost 29-15 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Won 26-23 at home to the Scarlets; (Heineken Cup quarter-final): Won 19-14 at home to Toulouse; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 54-13 away to Leinster; (RaboDirect PRO12): Lost 38-13 away to the Cardiff Blues
Top Scorers - 2011/12 Heineken Cup: Ulster - Points: Ruan Pienaar 54; Tries: Andrew Trimble 4; Edinburgh - Points: Greig Laidlaw 82; Tries: Tim Visser 4
Previous European Meetings: 4
Friday, January 15, 2010 - Pool 4 - Ulster 21 Edinburgh 13, Ravenhill
Saturday, October 17, 2009 - Pool 4 - Edinburgh 17 Ulster 13, Murrayfield
Friday, September 18, 1998 - Pool C - Ulster 38 Edinburgh 38, Ravenhill
Sunday, November 8, 1998 - Pool C - Edinburgh 21 Ulster 23, Easter Road Stadium
Heineken Cup Records:
Ulster -
2010/11: Reached the quarter-finals
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
1998/99: Champions
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool C
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool B
Edinburgh -
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2003/04: Reached the quarter-finals
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool C
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool A
