Coming after the psychological blow of losing their two-year unbeaten record at home to another fellow Irish province, the return of the talismanic David Humphreys and the debut of major summer signing Kevin Maggs could hardly be more timely for Mark McCall's Ulster team.
"It's the experience and strength of personality they bring as much as anything else," admits McCall, adding: "We're glad to have them back. It's been a strange start. We won the game we were expected to lose (away to a near full-strength Edinburgh) and lost the game we were expected to win."
That Ulster are also still smarting from that defeat to Leinster as they seek to avert successive defeats (for the first time since February), and to local rivals at that, probably isn't good news for Connacht.
"We were bitterly disappointed with our performance and the result last week although if you look at the tape of the game we did have chances," says McCall.
Humphreys' return looks especially beneficial given that, not only he is a top-class goal-kicker, but his huge field and tactical kicking could be particularly important in helping to subdue Connacht.
The latter are still aggrieved over the 10 minutes of injury-time Nigel Owers found in denying Connacht an overdue win against Munster last week. Although Michael Bradley is keen to accentuate the positives of that second-half comeback, given they looked a beaten side in the first period.
Bradley is not inclined to risk John O'Sullivan, whose work-rate has been a key component in their strong start to the season, for fear of their talented number eight having a lengthier absence, although the return of Bernard Jackman - their prime ball carrier last season - is also a timely boon.
Second in a formative table, Connacht probably have the edge in confidence, although it will probably still need a good turnout from their home support and a good deal of accuracy in all their basics for them to have a chance of causing an upset. That remains their their sole win over Ulster in the sides' last eight meetings, though you sense they don't have the same mental block as they do when facing Munster.
"We've made a good start and in terms of where we are I think we'll get better," maintains Bradley. "For example Tom Tierney and Paul Warwick can become a better partnership with more games together and when we have Darren Yapp, Mark McHugh and James Downey back, that will make for a very competitive back line."
If Connacht are to win it, you suspect it will need to be a tight game, that they'll need ultra solid basics to impose themselves physically on their visitors, though Ulster arguably have more potential to pull clear, given the young speedsters Tommy Bowe and Andy Maxwell are now augmented by vastly experienced campaigners inside them.
CONNACHT: D Slemen; T Robinson, M Mostyn, N O'Brien, C McPhillips; P Warwick, T Tierney; A Clarke, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Carroll, M Lacey. Replacements: J Fogarty, S Knoop, D McFarland, P Myburgh, P Neville, C O'Loughlin, E Elwood.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, K Maggs, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, N Doak; S Best, P Shields, R Moore, M Mustchin, M McCullough, A Ward (Capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: N Brady, R McCormack, R Frost, C Feather, K Campbell, P Wallace, P Steinmetz.
Referee: Neil Ballard (WRU).
Last five meetings: (00-01) Interpro - Connacht 15 Ulster 39; Interpro - Ulster 36 Connacht 22. (01-02) Interpro/CL - Connacht 17 Ulster 18. (03-04) CL - Connacht 31 Ulster 20; CL - Ulster 42 Connacht 27.
Overall head-to-heads (Interpros and/or Celtic League): Played 61, Connacht 10 wins, 3 draws, Ulster 48 wins.
Biggest wins: Connacht - 27-12 at Sportsground 1997-98. Ulster - 50-9 at Sportsground, 1999-2000.
Forecast: Ulster to win.
