Ulster ready to banish demons on Burns’ night

ULSTER know their only realistic opportunity of silencing the talk of their annus horribilis is by ensuring they can guarantee positive air time by their efforts in this campaign.

The work begins at home. The floundering oil tanker belatedly wheeled itself to face the right way in recent weeks and with Dan McFarland fully on board, the return of injury-plagued back-row behemoth Marcell Coetzee offers some sense of encouragement to the long-suffering Belfast support.

Chuck in Will Addison at fullback – good enough to already be on Joe Schmidt’s acute radar – and burly back three player Henry Speight, and the melancholic strains of regret might just be supplanted by some quiet optimism.

Especially if Billy Burns, the Irish-qualified recruit at out-half, can accelerate his early season claims to cast the absence of Paddy Jackson to the memory banks.

Scarlets are in the business of trying to win trophies but an injury list comprising some 14 players may prove too much of a handicap.

Ireland internationals John Cooney and Iain Henderson will also start after missing the two pre-season fixtures.

Cooney and Burns are paired in the half-back positions for the first time, while Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave will provide a familiar look to the midfield.

Nick Timoney’s rapid improvement also offers encouragement for the locals, particularly as he now gets the chance to dove-tail with the powerful Coetzee.