Great start for Ulster as the run from their own half into the Zebre 22. Duane Vermeulen with one of his signature barnstorming runs.

The ball is lofted into the Belfast sky and we are underway and as expected the Kingspan Stadium is rocking.

Click the icon to watch the game live, it is also available on BBC Two NI and the iPlayer.

Rory Best
Former Ulster captain on BBC Two NI

Iain Henderson has been a talismanic leader for Ulster for a number of years now. As much as he adds as a player the fact he is named on a team sheet is massive for the people around him.

Ulster centre Luke Marshall has said there were times he feared his career was over as he battled back from a serious knee injury.

Eleven-time Ireland international Marshall's career has been plagued by injuries in recent years.

A second knee injury kept him out for 16 months before returning to action for Ulster in March.

"You definitely have those thoughts [about being forced to retire]," Marshall told The Ulster Rugby Show.

"It's great to see, but at the same time you're going 'they're progressing without me and I'm not as young as I once was' so you have those doubts.

"There were times, like when I did my knee the first time four years ago, that was a full tear and that wasn't ideal.

"The second time I did it I sprained it so I thought I was going to get back within six to eight weeks, but then I did seven months of rehab and at that stage it wasn't getting better.

Read the full interview, external or listen to it on the Ulster Rugby Show.

Much of the talk for Ulster fans during the Autumn Internationals was on Stuart McCloskey and Robert Baloucoune.

But did you know prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen also featured in the autumn making his international debut for Samoa.

Toomaga-Allen had previously been capped once for the All Blacks back in 2013 but was able to change under the new international rules.

Can any rugby nerds name who he played against back in 2013? He is on the bench tonight so once he is on I will reveal the answer..

Image source, Getty Images

The Kingspan Stadium is set to at full capacity tonight.

Half priced tickets has lured in the locals so expect a good atmosphere in the crowd this evening.

Loud roars of ‘stand up for the Ulstermen’ will be in full cry.

Friday night under the lights, live on BBC NI – yes please!

Duane Vermeulen will captain Ulster for the first time this evening.

Former Munster fly-half Jake Flannery will make his debut for Ulster after missing the early part of the season featuring with Emerging Ireland.

The final big news is captain Iain Henderson could make his first appearance of the season after suffering a knee injury on Ireland’s tour to New Zealand. Fellow Irish international Jacob Stockdale also features again for Ulster after an ankle injury.

Ulster: Stewart Moore; McIlroy, Hume, Marshall, Stockdale; Flannery, Doak; Reid, Stewart, Marty Moore; Izuchukwu, Carter; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Vermeulen (capt).

Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, Toomaga-Allen, Henderson, McCann, McDonald, Curtis, Moxham.

Zebre: Pani; Trulla, Kriel, Lucchin (capt), Gesi; Prisciantelli, Cook; Pitinari, Du Toit, Nocera; Uys, Zambonin; Volpi, Ferrari, Kvesic.

Replacements: Manfred, Rimpelli, Genovese, Krumov, Bianchi, Jelic, Caputo, Cronje.

Ulster are back in action tonight for the first time since their 15-14 win over Munster at Thomand Park at the end of October.

Dan McFarland has named a strong side with his team third in the United Rugby Championship, nothing more than a bonus win is what the Ulster fans will order.

Zebre however are a much improved side in recent years and McFarland’s team selection indicates just that.

Make sure and tune in to BBC NI if you want to watch it live.

Image source, Getty Images