HEINEKEN CUP POOL 4 - BIARRITZ v ULSTER
Venue: Parc de Sports Aguilera Date: Sunday, 17 October Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Live scores on BBC website, live on Sky Sports

Darren Cave is set to miss Ulster's game against Biarritz

Ulster are set to be without backs Jamie Smith and Darren Cave for Sunday's crucial Heineken Cup Pool Four game against Biarritz in France.

Smith is suffering from a shoulder injury and Cave has a knee complaint.

In the absence of Cave, Ian Whitten is set to partner Paddy Wallace at centre while Adam D'Arcy and David McIlwaine are possible starters at full-back.

Forwards Stephen Ferris and BJ Botha have both been passed fit, and Niall O'Connor also returns to the squad.

Ferris and Botha had missed the province's last two games after sustaining injuries in the Magners League draw with Connacht at the Sportsground.

Botha was almost fit to face Aironi on Friday night but suffered a late setback which ruled him out.

Ferris was given an extra week to recover from his shoulder injury.

In the absence of O'Connor, Ian Humphreys occupied the fly-half position against Aironi, but O'Connor will be favourite to reclaim the number ten shirt.

Both sides won their opening fixtures in the competition, with Ulster triumphing 30-6 at home to the Italian outfit to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Last year's beaten finalists Biarritz secured a narrow 12-11 away win at Bath.

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin says his side "want to go across to France and prove that they are capable of winning against a team that was in the Heineken Cup final last year".

"This is an opportunity to show that we have improved since last year.

"Biarritz are a very talented outfit, with Dimitri Yachvili making them tick from scrum-half, but we feel we can get something from the game.

"We can't afford to make the same mistakes that we did against Aironi or they will punish us.

"We created numerous opportunities against Aironi but we failed to execute many of them, although we came away with four tries and a bonus point in the end.

"We won't get half as many opportunities against Biarritz so it is important that when we have an opportunity to score, we take it."

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