And both have New Zealand coaches though new to this environment have already made a positive impression with players and supporters alike.

Mark Anscombe makes seven changes to the side that started here against the Ospreys last time out and that includes the presence from the off this time of Stephen Ferris - winning his 100th cap - Tom Court, John Afoa, Andrew Trimble and the youthful half-back pairing of Paul Marshall and Paddy Jackson.

Rob Penney on the other hand confines his changes to just three and all in the pack where Dave Kilcoyne comes in for Wian du Preez and BJ Botha  starts ahead of Stephen Archer the player Botha replaced in the closing stages of the Treviso game.

The only other change sees Donncha O'Callaghan, not surprisingly after his tour de force against Edinburgh in the opener,  preferred as partner to Billy Holland who is another enjoying a rich vein of form.

Last weekend Anscombe was able to spring his marquee players from the bench to good effect and tonight Penney has Conor Murray, Ronan O'Gara and Keith Earls in reserve and all will be introduced at some stage though there is the suspicion the Kiwi coach is confident that when he calls on them it won't be to do a rescue job.

ULSTER: J Payne; A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, P Marshall; T Court, N Brady, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), L Stevenson, S Ferris, S Doyle, N Williams: Replacements: R Herring, C Black, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, M McComish, M Heaney, P Nelson, C Gilroy.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett (capt), C Laulala, J Downey, L O’Dea; I Keatley, D Williams; D Kilcoyne, D Varley, BJ Botha; Donncha O’Callaghan, B Holland; Dave O’Callaghan, S Dougall, J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, S Archer, D Foley, T O’Donnell, C Murray, R O’Gara, K Earls.

Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU).