Ulster v Glasgow, Kingspan Stadium, Friday, 7.30pm (Sky Sports 3)

Ulster have reason to be excited about the arrival Charles Piutau, Marcel Coetzee, Rodney Ah You and Kieran Treadwell next season and also about this opportunity against the top Scottish side. Both teams have players on Six Nations duty but with Glasgow able to bring five internationals to Belfast.

Ulster must fill two gaps in the backline for Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble and one in the frontrow for Rory Best, which leaves them with a strong side with several players just short of Joe Schmidt’s thinking.

Reigning champions

Glasgow’s away record as been poor this season and their only win on the road was back in November against Cardiff Blues. The difficulty for Ulster is that they have difficulty with Glasgow and have won just one of their last six matches against the reigning champions. Kingspan Stadium is also the venue for Glasgow’s Pro12 final win over Munster last May.

Sam Windsor will make his competitive debut for Ulster at outhalf. The 28-year-old replaces Ian Humphreys, who suffered concussion last weekend.

Stuart McCloskey, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding and Craig Gilroy will line out in the backline, with Ruan Pienaar continuing at scrumhalf.

The frontrow remains unchanged with Franco van der Merwe returning to the team. He will partner Alan O’Connor in the secondrow.

Ulster: S Olding: C Gilroy, D Cave, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; S Windsor; R Pienaar; C Black, R Herring (C) R Lutton, A O'Connor, F van der Merwe, R Diack, S Reidy, N Williams. Replacements: A McCall, B Ross, C Henry, C Wilkinson, P Marshall, P Jackson, S Arnold.

Glasgow: P Murchie; L Jones, G Bryce, S Johnson, R Huges; G Hunter, A Price; R Grant, P MacArthur, S Puafisi, G Peterson, L Nakarawa, R Harley, S Favaro, R Wilson (C). Replacements: J Malcolm, A Allan, D Ray, J Strauss, C Fusaro, G Hart, P Horne, T Naiyaravoro

Referee: M Mitrea (FIR)

Verdict: Ulster win