Benetton Treviso return to the Belfast looking to repeat their last visit at Ravenhill when they won 12-23, thanks to a Kris Burton try and penalty try.
It was the only time Ulster were beaten by an Italian team.
Last season, Antonio Pavanello and his mates surrendered to the Heineken Cup runner-ups after Ian Whitten’s last-minute try which secured a 27-23 win for the Irish Province.
In the corresponding fixture this season, back in November during another international window, Treviso looked to be heading for victory but were denied by an understrength Ulster 16-15.
Treviso, in spite of last week’s 34-10 humbling of Munster, and the form book on the road for the Italians, are firm underdogs against the league leaders.
Treviso have won abroad just once this season, against Edinburgh, while Ulster were beaten only once by Ravenhill in the PRO12 this season.
Franco Smith lines up the same back players as last Sunday against Munster, with the exception of Andrea Pratichetti, who is replaced by Luca Morisi.
Brendan Williams will play his 229th game with Treviso, just two less of Gianni Zanon, who is at the seventh place in the all-time table.
As for the pack, Smith will be able to rely on some players released from Italy, and so lining up again Christian Loamanu as No. 8, but with Robert Barbieri and Dean Budd as flankers.
Captain Corniel Van Zyl and Valerio Bernabò are confirmed as locks.
In the front row, hooker Franco Sbaraglini is playing together with props Alberto De Marchi and Lorenzo Cittadini.
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