Simon Danielli will make his first Ulster start of the season in the Heineken Cup clash against the Scarlets at Ravenhill on Friday night.

The Scotland wing, who missed the first three months of the season after suffering a posterior cruciate knee ligament injury in a freak training accident in August, will return to the Ulster line-up for the Pool Four encounter which Matt Williams’ side must win to keep mathematical hopes of reaching the last eight alive.

Danielli, who scored two stunning tries in a cameo off the bench during last Friday’s 53-13 romp over Connacht, is a direct replacement for Timoci Nagusa, who has been ruled out of the contest with a hamstring injury.

Nagusa was yesterday left out of a 25-man squad to face the Scarlets for what is the third pool game of both sides’ European campaign.

With Andrew Trimble expected to be fit again after a hip problem, Ulster could start the game with two changes on the wing, with Mark McCrea set to drop out while the rest of the side, despite pressure from Isaac Boss on Cillian Willis at scrum-half, is expected to be unchanged.

Paddy Wallace, Rory Best and Stephen Ferris are all expected to be given the all-clear after injury concerns from the defeat of Connacht.

As well as Trimble’s return to the squad, Ulster Academy player Ian Whitten, who

is very close to a first start, is also included. The team will be named tomorrow.

Ulster captain Rory Best is determined to make amends for his side’s opening day Magners League defeat to the Scarlets at Ravenhill back in September.

“It did hurt us to lose against the Scarlets at Ravenhill at the start of the season and we know we have improved a lot since we played them in September,” said Best.

“When we look back at that game we know we didn't start well and against good teams if you give them a lead, you will always be chasing your tail.

“This Friday is a big game for us. We know if we don’t win it, we are definitely out of the tournament.

"The way we look at it is that there is 20 points up for grabs, 20 points in the past has been enough for teams to qualify without relying on other teams so we are trying to get the full points.

“People can say what they like about it, but that is the goal we are setting ourselves, this is our quarter final and we are going to go out and treat it as such.”

Tickets are available via www.ulsterrugby.com, Ravenhill Ticket Line 02890 493 222 Option 2 or through the Ravenhill Ticket Office Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

SQUAD: (Forwards) Justin Fitzpatrick; Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Tom Court, BJ Botha, Ed O’Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Matt McCullough, Kieron Dawson, Robbie Diack, Stephen Ferris, David Pollock, Thomas Anderson; (Backs): Niall O'Connor; Bryn Cunningham, Darren Cave, Andrew Trimble, Ian Whitten, Cillian Willis, Isaac Boss, Paul Steinmetz, Ian Humphreys, Mark McCrea, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli