Chris Henry
Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

Mentally tonight is the big challenge.

Richie Murphy said put that [Munster] loss to bed and move forward but for players that's the challenge.

How do the senior players get the belief back that they can go somewhere like Galway and get the points?

Ulster's Ben Carson is back in the side's midfield this evening after missing out against Munster through injury.

The opportunity to pull on the white jersey is something that he cherishes all the more after suffering a serious injury which he feared at the time could end his prospect of playing high-level rugby.

Read more.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Speaking of Andrew Brace, it's a red-letter day for the IRFU official...he'll take up the whistle for the 100th time in the URC this evening.

He becomes the fifth man to hit the milestone, joining Nigel Owens, George Clancy, Marius Mitrea and Ben Whitehouse.

After his side's loss to Leinster last Saturday, Mack Hansen certainly hit the headlines with his comments.

The Connacht and Ireland wing was far from full of festive cheer as he hit out against officiating in Connacht's games.

"Like, I feel like we get this every week. We never get any calls, ever. I've been feeling this for years now."

There'll certainly be a few extra eyes on referee Andrew Brace this evening!

Read more.

Image source, Inpho

Ian Humphreys
Former Ulster fly-half Ian Humphreys on BBC Radio Ulster

I think last week will be hugely disappointing. Ulster would have fancied their chances against a Munster team that hadn't been performing well either.

A loss tonight and you're almost cut adrift from the top eight and you're really starting to panic about Europe next year.

A win tonight and I think they're back in the top eight and they've a fairly favourable draw [of fixtures] after the European games.

BBC Sounds

Our radio coverage is already underway and you can listen here by clicking the tab at the top of the page. Alternatively, it's available on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster too.

Presenter Gavin Andrews is joined in the studio by former Ulster players Chris Henry and Ian Humphreys, while it's European Cup winner Tony McWhirter in the co-commentator's chair alongside Jim Neilly.

Spare a thought for Richie Murphy's wife Stephanie this evening.

A son on each time and her husband in the opposing coaching box.

Maybe hoping for a draw, then?

"It's more of a sideshow for my wife," said the Ulster head coach.

"She's the one that has to deal with all three of us. I definitely don't envy her position at the moment."

Read more.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Among the nine changes made by Richie Murphy from the side beaten by Munster last time out are first senior starts for fly-half Jack Murphy and Rory Telfer.

The former is the head coach's son and it'll be a real family affair with brother Ben on the bench for Connacht.

Elsewhere for Ulster, Stuart McCloskey is out with the "serious" hamstring injury he sustained against Munster but there is a return for recently capped Irish international Cormac Izuchukwu in the back-row.

In a late alteration for Ulster, Alan O'Connor is out with illness and replaced by Kieran Treadwell with Harry Sheridan on the bench. In O'Connor's absence, Nick Timoney is Ulster's captain.

Connacht have made three changes from the side beaten by Leinster last week with changes at half-back, where Jack Carty and Caolin Blade are chosen to start, and Argentina international Santiago Cordero coming on to the left wing position.

Connacht: O'Conor; Hansen, Forde, Aki, Cordero; Carty, Blade; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham, Murphy, Murray, Prendergast (capt), Hurley-Langton, Boyle.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Dooley, Aungier, Dowling, Jansen, Murphy, Jennings, Oliver.

Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Carson, Postlethwaite, Telfer; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Herring, Wilson, Treadwell, Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Timoney (capt), McNabney.

Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, Barrett, Sheridan, McCann, Cooney, Morgan, De Klerk.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the last of the festive interpros.

With Ulster and Connacht set to go head-to-head in Galway, both sides are in need of a win after losses last week.

Indeed, the northern province have dropped each of their past five games to fall to 13th in the United Rugby Championship. Connacht are one place better off, although level on points with tonight's visitors to the Sportsground.

Who will have the upper hand come the end of the evening? Stay with us to find out.

We'll have live text coverage right here, as well as radio commentary on this page, BBC Sounds and Radio Ulster.

Image source, BBC Sport