Tito: Back at the helm
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The Cardiff Blues have made four changes to their starting XV for their RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Ulster.
After two rounds of the competition, the Blues find themselves at the top of the table and will be looking to keep it that way when they face a tricky trip to third-placed Ulster.
Cardiff will be without fly-half Gareth Davies for the match after he tweaked his hamstring last time out against Treviso. Ceri Sweeny takes over the number ten jersey.
Elsewhere in the back-line, Casey Laulala replaces Dafydd Hewitt at outside centre.
In the pack, Xavier Rush fills in at number eight in place of Andries Pretorius who has picked up a knee injury. Skipper Paul Tito returns to action and he slots into the second row at the expense of Deiniol Jones.
Prop Scott Andrews admits that the Ravenhill showdown will be a tough test for the men from Cardiff but that it is one the team are ready to face.
"I think the match is a bit of a step up," he told Cardiff's official website.
"We lost to Ulster twice quite heavily last season, so taking nothing away from Edinburgh and Treviso, it's definitely a step up and a difficult challenge."
"Obviously we got maximum points from our opening two games, so it's been the perfect start.
"We're playing a different style of rugby, with a bit more width to our game and forwards playing with ball in hand, with a lot more skill required from the forwards, so hopefully we can continue that."
"I think it's a style of play that the boys enjoy. Much as the front five do the hard work they do enjoy having the ball in hand and I think the whole squad enjoy playing that style and are buying into it."
"Obviously it's going to be more difficult when the weather changes, because at the moment the weather's been good when we've played."
Meanwhile, Jared Payne will make his Ulster debut against Cardiff.
The New Zealander will start at full-back in place of Adam D'Arcy who drops to the bench. The back-line is otherwise unchanged from the side that played Aironi on Saturday.
There are three personnel changes up front with Declan Fitzpatrick is named at loosehead prop with Paddy McAllister named among the replacements. Andi Kyriacou and Jerry Cronin complete the front row.
Lewis Stevenson comes in to partner Dan Tuohy in the second row, with Neil McComb providing positional cover on the bench. In the back row, Robbie Diack is named at number 8 meaning Chris Henry moves round to the openside flanker berth.
Mike McComish may make his first competitive appearance for Ulster from the bench, having tasted some action in pre-season.
Form: Ulster have hit the ground running just like they did last year when they won their opening three matches. The Ulstermen have won ten of their last eleven regular season matches in the tournament. Ulster have won all eight home matches they have played at Ravenhill in 2011. Cardiff Blues top the RaboDirect PRO12 table after two rounds courtesy of two bonus point wins, but have not won their opening three games of a season since 2007/08. Ulster did the season's double over the Blues last campaign for the first time since 2005/06, whilst the Cardiff based side have won on three of their last four visits to Ravenhill.
Ulster: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Nevin Spence, 11 Ian Whitten, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Robbie Diack, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Pedrie Wannenburg, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Jerry Cronin, 2 Andy Kyriacou, 1 Declan Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Adam Macklin, 19 Neil McComb, 20 Mike McComish, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Adam D'Arcy
Cardiff: 15 Chris Czekaj, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Xavier Rush, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito (c), 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Williams, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 James Monck, 19 James Down, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Dafydd Hewitt
Date: Friday, September 16
Venue: Ravenhill
Kick-off: 19:05 (18:05 GMT)
Referee: James Jones (WRU)
Assistant Referees: John Carvill, David Keane (both IRFU)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)
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