Ulster's marquee signing Duane Vermeulen isn't yet available, but newly-capped Ireland international Nick Timoney starts at Number 8. They will be looking for John Cooney and Billy Burns to control the game, and feed the likes of Jacob Stockdale out wide.

Five debutants for Glasgow tonight. Sione Tuipulotu, who has impressed in preseason, starts in the centres, and Duncan Weir makes his first appearance for Glasgow since 2016 following his arrival from Worcester.

Ulster lost just two games in last season's Pro14 and came second in their conference, but missed out on the final because only the top side from each conference qualified. Quarter-finals will be seen as a must this time around.

Glasgow were disappointing in the Pro14, despite a late season rally. They will need to do better this season if they are to achieve Danny Wilson's goal of topping the Scottish-Italian pool.

Michael Morrow
BBC Sport NI at Kingspan Stadium

Finally, after a year and change of eery space the concourses around the Kingspan Stadium are once again filled with people, burgers, pints and dinky doughnuts. It feels so much better.

15,000 are expected tonight making it the highest attendance at a rugby match in Ireland since the early March 2020.

As for the rugby? There's an air of optimism surrounding that too. A new competition presents the chance to move on from the stagnant Pro14 and move into something of an altogether more engrossing product.

Welcome to our coverage of the new United Rugby Championship, as Ulster take on Glasgow Warriors at the Kingspan Stadium.

Both sides will be hoping to kick off their season with a victory, as they chase a successful campaign.

You can follow radio coverage via the link at the top of the page, and we'll have text updates.