Ulster have won all ten of their league fixtures at Ravenhill so far in 2006. Can Leinster be the team to end their formidable run in Belfast?
MAGNERS LEAGUE: Saturday, December 2
ULSTER v LEINSTER, Ravenhill, 7.30pm (live Setanta Sports)
**IrishRugby.ie will be running a live match tracker from Belfast**
Team News: Ulster coach Mark McCall has named a 25-man squad for this weekend's provincial derby. He is without the back line talents of Andrew Trimble (hamstring), Andrew Maxwell (back) and Tommy Bowe (hamstring).
He has included in the squad seven of the eight players from the province - Trimble being the absentee - who lined out for Ireland during the Guinness Autumn Series.
McCall will announce his starting team and replacements at noon on Friday.
Meanwhile, Leinster coach Michael Cheika has confirmed a 24-man playing panel for Saturday's trip up north. It includes all eight Leinster players who were capped for Ireland this month, led by captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Experienced Ireland scrum half Guy Easterby is back in the Leinster squad for the first time since he sustained a jaw injury against the Borders in mid-October. Talismanic out-half Felipe Contepomi is a notable absentee after he strained his medial knee ligaments in action for Argentina against France last weekend - the Pumas star is expected to be out for six weeks.
Cheka is due to confirm his side for Ravenhill on Friday afternoon.
Ulster Squad: Forwards (13) - Simon Best (capt), Bryan Young, Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Paul Shields, Justin Harrison, Matt McCullough, Tim Barker, Roger Wilson, Neil Best, Kieron Dawson, Stephen Ferris, Neil McMillan.
Backs (12) - Paul Marshall, Kieran Campbell, Isaac Boss, David Humphreys, Adam Larkin, Paddy Wallace, Kevin Maggs, Paul Steinmetz, Paul McKenzie, Mark Bartholomeusz, Bryn Cunningham, Scott Young.
Leinster Squad: Forwards (12) - Ronan McCormack, Reggie Corrigan, Brian Blaney, Harry Vermaas, Fosi Pala'amo, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Owen Finegan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip.
Backs (12) - Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Andrew Dunne, Christian Warner, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll (capt), Kieran Lewis, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney.
Referee: Olan Trevor (Ireland)
Touch Judges: Eanna O'Dowd, Tom Horkan (both Ireland)
PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS:
August 2001 - Leinster 31 Ulster 9, Donnybrook
January 2004 - Leinster 32 Ulster 30, Donnybrook
May 2004 - Ulster 28 Leinster 6, Ravenhill
September 2004 - Ulster 15 Leinster 26, Ravenhill
December 2004 - Leinster 9 Ulster 8, Donnybrook
October 2005 - Leinster 30 Ulster 23, Donnybrook
December 2005 - Ulster 19 Leinster 24, Ravenhill
MATCH FACTS:
- Defending league champions and current table-toppers Ulster have won their last three matches in the Magners League since slipping up against Munster (21-13) in September. Ulster have won all ten matches they have played at Ravenhill in the league in 2006
- Leinster have won four of their last five games in the Magners League, but on the road, Michael Cheika's men have won just once this season - 31-16 against Connacht in September. Leinster have won the last six matches they have played against their fellow provinces in the league
- Ulster have won just one of the last eight games they have played against Leinster since September 2000. At Ravenhill in May 2004, they beat Leinster 28-6
- Ulster out-half David Humphreys is top of the league's scoring charts currently. The former Irish international has scored 105 points (1 try, 17 conversions and 22 penalties) in eight games. The injured Felipe Contepomi is Leinster's top scorer with 80 points (2 tries, 11 conversions and 16 penalties) in seven games
- Humphreys has kicked 39 of his 51 attempts at goal this season for a 76.47% success rate. Contepomi has missed only ten of his 37 kicks for a 72.97% success rate. Bryn Cunningham and Paul Steinmetz are Ulster's top try scorers in the league with four tries, while Leinster winger Denis Hickie has also bagged four tries in seven games
