Connacht have been able to advance into Ulster's 22 with some swift attacks, but can't get make the breakthrough just yet.

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Kingspan Stadium

Fair to say this one hasn't come close to living up to its pre-match hype just yet.

That melee excited the crowd here far more than anything that has come before it.

When you stare down at your notebook and it's pretty much empty after 15 minutes, you know you're watching a game that's yet to come to life.

A melee ensues with virtually every player after a tangle involving Prendergast and Toomaga-Allen.

The referee awards a penalty to Ulster and gives a stern warning to both captains to control the flaring tempers.

That incident helped turn the volume up in Kingspan even further, can Ulster respond to it?

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Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner

"Connacht look dangerous. They are getting some soft yards from the Ulster defence. Ulster need to stop them getting over the gain line."

After some nice build-up play, Carty's wayward kick hands possession back to Ulster and that sums up the lack of quality so far in this game.

There is a stoppage in play as Burns receives some treatment. He is back on his feet and looks able to continue.

A scrappy start so far from both sides, but particularly Ulster in the attacking zones.

McCann has started brightly and his driving runs forward will be key for Dan McFarland's side this evening.

Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner

"This game will be won or lost up front. Ulster have been heavily reliant on their pack this year and they have used it really effectively to win games.

The being said Connacht are known for throwing the ball around. They have Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen – there’s a plethora of guys who can do some damage in that backline."

A great run from McCann drives Ulster forward but a knock on in the build up leads to the first scrum of the evening. Connacht, who have been dominant in the scrum, come out on top.

Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner

"There is a real buzz about the ground this evening. Fair conditions, teams are at full strength and I’m excited for an Irish rugby derby."

The referee blows his whistle and Ulster get the game underway.

The teams are out at a packed Kingspan Stadium where the fans are creating a raucous atmosphere.

The IRFU confirmed today that Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has stepped down from the position by "mutual consent" following the team's poor Women's Six Nations campaign in which they failed to win a game.

Read the full story here

Image source, Inpho

Ulster coach Dan McFarland says his team will have a plan in place to deal with the threat that Connacht fly-half Jack Carty possesses ahead of this evening play-off.

You can read more here

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Ulster announced this week that 10 players will leave at the end of the season and that they will recognise their contributions during this evening's game.

Duane Vermeulen, who starred in the South Africa's 2019 World Cup triumph, Samoa prop Toomaga-Allen, Scot Sutherland and Australian lock Sam Carter, are among those who will depart the Kingspan Stadium.

Craig Gilroy, who announced his departure last month, Rob Lyttle, the retiring Jodi Murphy, Gareth Milasinovich, Declan Moore and Frank Bradshaw-Ryan complete the 10 players who are leaving.

Image source, Inpho

Ahead of the URC quarter-final, Stuart McCloskey says finally getting his hands on silverware with Ulster would mean more to him than his recent Grand Slam win with Ireland.

You can read more here

Image source, Inpho

Mark Sterling
BBC Sport NI at Kingspan Stadium

The last time Ulster won a trophy, having a few fried onions on your pre-match hotdog or burger may have been as close to gourmet as you could get at their Belfast home.

Now, of course, 17 years on from the province's league title success, the array of eateries at Kingspan Stadium makes for an inviting aroma around the ground.

Will Dan McFarland's men be tasting trophy success this season, though?

Quite a few commentators would suggest this might just be the best chance they will have for a while, with another home match in store in the semi-final if they can get past Connacht tonight.

The early May sunshine has just gone down in this part of Belfast as the players from both sides go through their warm-ups.

Time to get the game heads on - and you can feel the excitement building among the gathering crowd.

Here are the two teams in full for this evening's clash at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; Sutherland, Herring, Toomaga-Allen; O'Connor (capt), Treadwell; McCann, Timoney, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Milasinovich, Carter, Murphy, Doak, Moore, Gilroy.

Connacht: O'Halloran; Porch, Farrell, Aki, Hansen; Carty, Blade; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham; Murphy, Murray; Hurley-Langton, Oliver, Prendergast.

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Duggan, Aungier, Dowling, Butler, Marmion, Daly, Ralston.

Rob Herring will win his 229th cap tonight to equal Ulster's all-time record.

South African World Cup-winning back row Duane Vermeulen, who will depart the province at the end of the season, is included from the start.

Props Rory Sutherland and Jeff Toomaga-Allen, who are among the 10 players who will leave Ulster, also start.

Jacob Stockdale will make his 100th Ulster appearance on the wing.

For Connacht, Ireland Grand Slam winners Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen have both been named to start after recovering from illness.

Image source, Inpho

Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of tonight's United Rugby Championship play-off quarter final between rivals Ulster and Connacht.

Having lost to eventual champions Stormers in the URC semi-finals last season, Ulster start this year's play-offs with a home interpro against Connacht, who finished seventh in the regular season standings.

Dan McFarland's side will aim to continue their quest for a first league title since 2006 with a victory against Andy Friend's Connacht, who they have beaten in their last three encounters.

Yet, the visitors are a team in form having won six of the last seven URC matches.

It promises to be an enthralling encounter, with the winner set to play either Stormers or Bulls in the last four.

So sit back, relax and enjoy our coverage. Thanks for joining us!

Image source, Inpho