Ulster v Scarlets: Guinness PRO12 preview

Roger Wilson starts at No 8 on his 200th Ulster appearance

Roger Wilson will make his 200th appearance for Ulster in Sunday's Guinness PRO12 home clash with the Scarlets.

The 34-year-old made his debut for the province in 2003 and returned to Belfast in 2012 following a four-year stint with Northampton Saints.

Wilson is named in the back row alongside Robbie Diack and Chris Henry, who makes his first appearance since December after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Paul Marshall and captain Paddy Jackson are the half-back pairing with Luke Marshall returning to the midfield following his release from the Ireland camp.

Rob Herring has been ruled out with a hamstring injury so John Andrew makes his first senior start, with fellow hooker Johnny Murphy poised to make his Ulster bow if introduced from the bench.

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Ulster edged out Glasgow last week for their third successive PRO12 victory

Ulster are one point ahead of the Scarlets, who kept their top-four hopes alive with a narrow win over Edinburgh last weekend.

Aled Thomas, who kicked the match-winning penalty against Edinburgh, comes into the starting line-up after Steven Shingler was ruled out for up to 10 weeks with a medial knee ligament injury.

Thomas partners Aled Davies at half-back and are the only two changes made by head coach Wayne Pivac.

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Aled Thomas' late penalty snatched victory for the Scarlets at home to Edinburgh

"It's important to get a good start," said Pivac. "We don't want to be chasing the game, they're a really good crowd and get behind the side.

"We will be looking to chip away at the scoreboard and stay in the game. Hopefully we'll get some reasonable weather and try to score some tries."

Ulster: 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Paddy Jackson (c), 9 Paul Marshall, 1 Andrew Warwick, 2 John Andrew, 3 Ricky Lutton, 4 Alan O'Connor, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Robbie Diack, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Roger Wilson.

Replacements: 16 Johnny Murphy, 17 Kyle McCall, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Pete Browne, 20 Clive Ross, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Sammy Arnold.

Scarlets: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Gareth Owen, 13 Regan King, 12 Hadleigh Parkes (c), 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Aled Davies; 1 Phil John, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Peter Edwards, 4 George Earle, 5 David Bulbring, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Will Boyde, 8 Morgan Allen.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Maselino Paulino, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Jones, 23 Steffan Evans.