When Ulster Rugby started out their Heineken Cup campaign with a 30-3 demolition of three-time champions Toulouse in Round 1, who would have thought that by the time Round 4 came along, they would be propping up the Pool table?

Well, that is exactly where they are following defeats to Llanelli Scarlets and London Irish.

The current Magners League champions have lost their way, and although they have another 15 points available to them, are facing an early exit from a competition for which this year they had big ambitions year.

London Irish - although in second place in the Pool - are just one point ahead of the Ulstermen, and will be looking to complete the double over their fellow Irish opponents following a really impressive 29-13 win in Round 3.

Despite Saturday's bruising encounter against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium, there were no new injury concerns as Ulster try to close the eight point lead held by Llanelli Scarlets at the top of Pool 5.

Mark McCall has named his team to take on London Irish on Friday evening at Ravenhill, kick off 7.30pm. The game which has been a sell out for a number of weeks will see the two sides meet for the second time in 7 days. Ulster will be hoping for a much improved performance and Coach Mark McCall said at the weekly media session, "Our aim on Friday is to deliver a better performance than we did at the weekend, recognise the areas where we need a big, big improvement and improve on those areas and be smarter in the way we play."

Tommy Bowe is an injury concern. He will have a fitness test today and is likely to be assessed again tomorrow morning. The only definite change on the side is Justin Fitzpatrick who starts at Loosehead Prop while Bryan Young drops to the bench.

Ulster, who are undefeated at Ravenhill this season, and currently top of the Magners League above European rivals Llanelli Scarlets, are still mathematically in with a chance of qualifying for the Quarter Finals of the Heineken Cup. After last year's home win against Saracens and the famous 33-0 victory over Leicester Tigers in the competition, Ulster will be hoping to make it a hat trick of home wins over English opposition.

Justin Harrison spoke about the defeat to London Irish over the weekend: "We're buoyed by the fact the squad was still positive in training. There is no doubt that there was disappointment but it's coupled with what sport provides you with and that's challenges. Everyone meets challenges in different ways and the character of the team will come through in Friday's match."

To bring in the Christmas period and provide festive cheer to all, Ulster rugby are providing the first 4,000 supporters through the gate for the Heineken Cup return match against London Irish on Friday with Santa hats. The match, a sell-out within days of the tickets going on sale, gives the team a chance to exact some revenge on the Premiership side, after Saturday's defeat at the Madejski stadium. In receiving your hat, it can also be used for the Boxing Day match against Connacht in the Magners League.