RUGBY:ULSTER STAND on the threshold of the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time in 12 years since the halcyon days of 1999 when they progressed to win the trophy at Lansdowne Road. The final step of what has at times being a fraught journey, as evidenced in their nerve-shredding late victory over Biarritz Olympique at Ravenhill last weekend, will be one they would gladly have embraced at the outset of the pool.

Travelling to Italy in search of a victory to ensure qualification is not the most arduous assignment, not matter how the undertaking is weighed. Aironi did shock Biarritz at today’s venue earlier in the tournament but that is more a reflection of the French team’s attitude on the day.

Ulster have been forewarned and should therefore be forearmed. Brian McLaughlin’s team will have to guarantee the same integrity of performance that has sufficed to see off their hosts on three occasions already this season.

Ulster will look to their senior players, the leaders within the team to manage the occasion. In that respect the loss of captain Rory Best to a rib injury is a blow. He exudes authority and has oodles of big game experience with the national team. Nigel Brady is a very capable deputy but he must match Best’s work-rate.

Others must fill the void, principally internationals Stephen Ferris, Tom Court and Johann Muller. Ferris will do so by deed, thundering into the tackle and no less vigorous in trying to bullock his way through the Aironi defence. He did this to good effect in tandem with Dan Tuohy the last day; the latter producing a top quality performance in all facets of the game.

Muller has led Ulster in Best’s absence in the past this season and has impressed his team-mates in discharging that duty. He is known for his man and game managing skills and they’ll be important attributes this afternoon. He’ll also have to ensure Ulster’s lineout is more accurate than the last day. There were two or three occasions against Biarritz when a promising attacking platform was negated by a turnover out of touch.

BJ Botha’s elbow injury is another untimely setback. Declan Fitzpatrick must shoulder the burden in the South African’s absence in an area in which Aironi are well served by international props.

Ulster need to excel in the set-pieces to provide that platform up front. Court is no longer a tyro in the Test arena; his development as a player and prop is obvious and he’ll have to replicate his fine performance of last week. The visitors have elected to retain the genuine openside qualities of Willie Faloon rather than looking to the more physical attributes of Chris Henry.

The likelihood is the Irish province are not going to dominate up front and must therefore retain the belief in putting width on the ball that they demonstrated in cameos against Biarritz. Twice they cut open the French side and it should have led to a couple of tries. They can not falter now or become inhibited because of what is at stake. Ian Humphreys must still look to employ the full expanse of the pitch, mixing those patterns with seeking out territory. In this respect his partnership with Ruan Pienaar will be pivotal to the outcome.

It would be criminal if the game breaking ability of Nevin Spence, Andrew Trimble and Simon Danielli is under-utilised. Ulster need to have the courage of the conviction that has taken them to this point in the tournament.

Aironi have chosen a strong side, with Matias Aguero, Fabio Ongaro, Marco Bortolami, Quintin Geldenhuys returning to the starting line-up, while former Saracens number nine Mickey Wilson is given a run at scrumhalf.

However, for Ulster it is essentially down to what they do, or don’t, that’ll decide the outcome. Given what’s at stake it’s unlikely they’ll allow this wonderful opportunity to go abegging.

AIRONI RUGBY: J Laharrague; P Canavosio, R Penney, G Pavan, M Pratichetti; J Marshall, M Wilson; M Aguero, F Ongaro, F Staibano; M Bortolami, Q Geldenhuys (capt); V Liebenberg, J Erasmus, J Sole. Replacements: R Santamaria, S Perugini, A de Marchi, C del Fava, A Birchall, T Tebaldi, R Bocchino, G Pizarro.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick; J Muller (capt), D Tuohy; S Ferris, W Faloon, P Wannenburg. Replacements: A Kyriacou, B Young, J Cronin, T Barker, C Henry, P Marshall, I Whitten, D McIlwaine.

Referee: Christophe Berdos (France).

Verdict: Ulster to win.