Buoyed by the big improvement Ulster’s victory over Queensland Reds, coach Matt Williams is now seeking further fine-tuning in the final pre-season friendly against Worcester Warriors at Ravenhill tomorrow night (kick-off 7.30pm).

The 24-0 win over the Reds on Friday night saw Ulster tick a number of boxes that will have given Williams’ confidence that his new regime is already heading in the right direction.

However, the visit of Mike Ruddock’s Worcester side, with legendary Wallaby full-back Chris Latham in tow, will pose Ulster their toughest test yet given that the English Premiership outfit are set to field their full-strength line-up.

Williams will once again rotate his side, in order to ensure that every member of his squad will have had a chance to press their claims ahead of the start of the Magners League campaign.

As well as help blend in the new recruits, that policy already seems to have borne rich dividends, with young guns Thomas Anderson, Darren Cave, David Pollock, Chris Cochrane, Chris Henry and Neil Hanna all putting their hands up to heighten the sense of competition within the squad.

That will be ratched up again tomorrow with the return of Ireland wing Andrew Trimble, who is fit again after undergoing minor surgery, while still to come back into the equation are Stephen Ferris, who has been struggling with a back injury, and Ryan Caldwell who has had hip and knee problems.

Williams’ goal is to have competition for every position on the field and so far the only area where the side looks a little skinny is on the wing following the loss of Simon Danielli for three months with a knee injury.

Aside from personnel, the areas where Williams wants to see major improvements from last season are in the line-out, the

tackle count, the penalty count and the goal-kicking success ratio.

“The best thing about the performance against Queensland was that their scoreline was zero,” said Williams.

“Our big focus was our defence and even when the game was won we still didn’t let up.

“We have still got to get on top of penalties – and I still was unhappy with us (against the Reds), what makes me really, really angry is when the referee tells us things like: ‘hands off’ or ‘roll away’ and we don’t – and our missed tackles.

“We had 22 missed tackles against Bath and although that was down against the Reds, our goal is to bring it down to 12 and then under 10.

“Our line-out is not there yet either – we lost three in a row in the second half against the Reds but then at least defended well off them.

“Last year we would lose the line-out, miss three tackles and then give away the penalty so at least we are doing that multiple error.”

As for the goal-kicking, Clinton Schifcofske’s current 100 per cent success rate – is a big step up from last season’s average of 46 per cent.

After just two games, they remain small markers however.

Tomorrow night, we should learn a bit more.

“Worcester will be the hardest game,” added Williams.

“I have spoken to Mikey (Ruddock) who I know very well. We played together and then obviously worked together at Leinster and then coached against each other at international level.

“This game is his big trial. They have played a couple of (English) Division One clubs so they will be coming across brimming. We will have to get back at it.

“Trimby will play which we are delighted with and we really hope Ryan Caldwell will play, which will again be fantastic for us while Paul Marshall and Bryn Cunningham will get out there in certain positions.

“Mark McCrea will also get back but it might just be a week too early for Stephen Ferris. He is back training but we will err on the side of caution.

“Carlo (Del Fava) also had to pull out of the Reds game with a wrist injury but it looks like he will be okay.”

Ruddock’s men smashed Moseley 73-7 at the weekend and the Warriors coach arrived in Belfast in upbeat mood.

“The style of rugby we are trying to achieve here at Sixways makes us a very attacking force to defend against,” said Ruddock who is expected to be without giant New Zealand lock Greg Rawlinson for the match.