'We always back ourselves at home' - Timoney
Nick Timoney has six Ireland caps since making his international debut in 2021
- Published
Ulster back row Nick Timoney says Richie Murphy's team will aim to put on a good performance for their home supporters in their first game in Belfast for seven weeks on Friday night.
The Irish province host Italian side Benetton in a United Rugby Championship encounter at the Affidea Stadium as they return to action after a five-week hiatus for the autumn international series of matches.
Ulster, who lie fifth in the URC table, defeated the Bulls 28-7 in their last home outing on 11 October but signed off for their period of inaction with a 49-31 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg two weeks later.
"Benetton are a really good team now. They're very physical and have loads of dangerous backs," Timoney told BBC Sport NI.
"They're well coached, it seems they have a massive squad and it's hard to know exactly who is going to play.
"It's going to be a really tough challenge but we always back ourselves on our home ground and we're looking forward to putting on a good performance for the crowd."
Timoney is one of three Ireland internationals who will return for the game, along with Springbok Juarno Augustus.
The Italian side are five positions and seven points worse off than their opponents on Friday night after winning two and losing three of their first five fixtures of the campaign.
"We lost away to them last season and they'll be coming here fired up, so we have to be ready for them," cautioned Timoney.
"We had a good start to the season. Obviously the last one [the defeat by the Lions] was a tough one - we had a few injuries and the conditions we maybe didn't handle quite as well - but if we win here it puts us in a good position in the league and hopefully good momentum heading into a big bloc of games."
The 30-year-old was part of the Ireland squad for the recent international series. including scoring the second try in the 41-10 win over Japan, and believes that the experience has a positive impact.
"Playing and training at a very high level makes you feel great coming back in.
"A lot of the Benetton lads will be in the same boat [having been part of the Italy squad]. I feel really good and excited to get back going."