Matt Williams has named a 25 man squad to take on French Giants Stade Français at Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon, KO 3.30pm.
All eyes will be on Ravenhill on Saturday afternoon when the Ulstermen take on the might of the French in Ulster's first Heineken Cup clash of the season, with the French side topping the French league and Ulster recording their first win of the season last week, it is set to be an exciting afternoon of rugby.
Irish International Paddy Wallace returns to the squad following on from a hamstring injury and the former Campbell College pupil is excited at the prospect of being involved in Ulster's first Heineken Cup game of the 2008/09 season, "I certainly hope to be involved.
"It is a big match, it is the European Cup and everyone in the squad wants to be a part of it. There will be some disappointment if they are not. But that is the way it is in a squad like this."
Talking about his injury Wallace continued, "If it was not 100 per cent, then I could have come back too early and if it happened again I could have been out for longer. It was important to manage the situation."
Ulster back rower and Man of the Match against Edinburgh Stephen Ferris spoke about how special Heineken Cup days are at Ravenhill, "It is just electric playing at Ravenhill on Heineken Cup days.
"Stade are one of the best teams in the world and there is no player that doesn't want to play against the best, the crowd on Friday night against Edinburgh were so loud and made all the right noises, so we can only imagine what they will be like against Stade."
Matt Williams has spoken publicly about his admiration for Stade and what a class act they are, "Stade are presently the best club side in the world at the minute and they could beat anyone, including Canterbury Crusaders"
He continued, "We have absolutely nothing to lose on Saturday. The odds are going to be unbelievably stacked against us, but they do not like leaving France and they certainly do not like coming to Belfast. No one has had a crack at them yet and we just have to go out and have a go at them. No side is unbeatable."
Stade Français are currently sitting at the top of the French Top 14 Championship on 31 points, after winning seven out of their seven games, 8 points clear of 2nd place Toulouse.
The side are one of the most successful French Clubs of the modern era, winning the French Championship thirteen times, the last win being in the 06/07 season, only behind Stade Toulousian, who have won the Championship 17 times.
They last won the Heineken Cup in the 2005.
Ulster v Stade Français Heineken Cup Results
Ulster v Stade Français, Saturday 9th January 1999: Ulster 33 - 27 Stade Francais
Ulster v Stade Français, 2nd November 2001: Ulster 19- 16 Stade Francais
Ulster v Stade Français, 12th December 2003: Ulster 19 - 17 Stade Francais
Ulster v Stade Français, Saturday 11th December 2004: Ulster 18-10 Stade Francais
Ulster v Stade Français, Saturday 11th October 2008: Watch this space!
Ulster Squad
Forwards
Justin Fitzpatrick; Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Rory Best, Brendan Botha, Carlo Del Fava, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Matt McCullough, Kieron Dawson, Robbie Diack, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock
Backs
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