When Ulster clash with London Irish on Saturday in the Heineken Cup, there will be a few familiar faces that will be involved at the Madjeski stadium. Read on for more information...Former players including Ulster Rugby Coach Mark McCall, Prop Justin Fitzpatrick, Flanker Kieron Dawson, Scrum Half Kieran Campbell and Out-Half David Humphreys have all worn the club colours, but any ties will be severed when the teams take the field. London Irish has always had an Ulster feel to it, with other former players Jeremy Davidson, Paddy Johns and Maurice Field playing for both clubs.

The club has changed dramatically from when they were based in Sunbury, south London to their new home in Reading. The club struggled in the early start of the professional era, but now would be ranked in the top tier of English Rugby. A very cosmopolitan side, with the skills of play-maker Rikki Flutey and Mike Catt, the power of Danie Coetzee, and the explosive pace and power of Delon Armitage and Sailosi Tagicakibau.

London Irish are considered to be on of the best lineouts in the competition, with former Ireland lock Bob Casey and England A international Nick Kennedy alongside 6’7 back-rower Kieran Roche, they pose a formidable proposition.

A face that some of the travelling Ulster supporters may recognise, would be that of Canadian number 8 Phil Murphy. Phil played for Irish schools when he attended Methodist College Belfast. The former Perpignan player has been an important part of the rejuvenated side.

The importance of the back-to-back matches between the two sides cannot be underestimated, whichever team fairs worse in the matches will have to wait until next year for European glory, but the winner will be in a good position before they go into the last two rounds of games.

Oliver Magne will be an absentee for Irish after picking up a two-match ban. The French flanker was suspended for two weeks by the Rugby Football Union after pleading guilty to stamping in the Guinness Premiership match against Northampton on November 26. The ban dates back to 29 November when Magne was suspended by his club - and means he will be available to face Ulster at Ravenhill on 15 December.

To watch and listen to Kieron Dawson and Andrew Trimble's thoughts on the London Irish v Ulster fixture please click here

The team named to play against London Irish is

ULSTER: 15 - Bryn Cunningham; 14 - Tommy Bowe ; 13 - Paul Steinmetz; 12 - Paddy Wallace; 11 - Andrew Trimble; 10 - David Humphreys; 9 - Isaac Boss; 1 - Bryan Young; 2 - Rory Best; 3 - Simon Best (Captain); 4 - Justin Harrison; 5 - Matt McCullough; 6 - Neil Best; 7 - Kieron Dawson; 8 - Roger Wilson

Replacements: 16 - Paul Shields; 17 - Justin Fitzpatrick; 18 - Tim Barker; 19 - Neil McMillan; 20 - Kieran Campbell; 21 - Kevin Maggs ; 22 - Mark Bartholomeusz

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WWW.ULSTERRUGBY.COM WILL HAVE LIVE MATCH TRACKER ONLINE IN THE FIXTURES SECTION OF THE WEBSITE - JUST LOOK FOR THE CORRECT FIXTURE AND FOLLOW THE LINK!! THE GAME WILL ALSO BE LIVE ON SKY SPORTS