There are more than a few people who would have liked to have seen Craig Gilroy and Iain Henderson getting a run out against Samoa or Australia over the past two weeks, Stuart Olding too.

While Olding is gone for the season with a cruciate injury, Mark Anscombe can at least add utility forward Henderson and Gilroy to a stripped- down Ulster team for Edinburgh's visit, and centres Luke Marshall and Darren Cave have been released back to the province by the Ireland management.

Not involved
Tommy Bowe, Paddy Jackson and Rory Best, as well as Ruan Pienaar, are not involved, nor is Johan Muller.

That’s five first picks who are not available to Anscombe in what is an important match.

A low-key affair because of Ireland's game against New Zealand on Sunday, Ulster are uncomfortably outside the top four in the table.

While ninth-place Edinburgh represent one of the lesser challenges Ulster have to face this season in Belfast, there is some risk for the home side as well as added interest as former coach Alan Solomons arrives for the first time since his three-year tenure as head coach with Ulster.

The rebuilding Edinburgh are missing a few, notably Grant Gilchrist, who lines out for Scotland against Australia as Solomons makes two changes to his side, who have won three of their last four matches.

Lock Ollie Atkins is handed his first start in the place of Gilchrist, while scrumhalf Sam Hidalgo-Clyne comes in for the injured Sean Kennedy.

“For me, this is going to be a really tough fixture but presents these players with an opportunity to build on their performance against Zebre in a tougher fixture, against a highly ranked side at a very tough venue,” said Solomons.

Home advantage and Ulster grit, however, should see the home side through.