Zebre with a lineout which they throw to the back.

They launch an attack out wide but Ulster turn the ball over and Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson with strong carries to put their side on the front foot.

Zebre's scrum is dominant, forcing Ulster's front row up and it's a penalty to the visitors.

They will be grateful for the opportunity to clear their lines after a spell of pressure from the hosts.

Penalty to Ulster.

Jack Murphy kicks to the corner but he's put too much on it and it goes out in the dead ball area.

It's a scrum to Zebre from where the ball was kicked.

Ulster swing the ball wide from the scrum and a probing kick is knocked on by Zebre.

The referee is playing advantage and Ulster are crashing the ball up in the visitor's 22.

Zebre enjoying a spell of territory and possession in Ulster's half.

Another knock-on stops the visitors in their tracks and it's a scrum to Ulster.

Ulster are off the hook as Zebre knock the ball on in Ulster's 22.

Tricky conditions so we can expect plenty of these types of errors.

Ulster roll the dice by challenging in the air and get the turnover.

A big intervention early on for Richie Murphy's side.

Ulster have pulled the maul down and we come back for the penalty.

Zebre weigh up their options and go for the corner...an early chance for the visitors.

Zebre with a line-out in the Ulster half.

They get the ball away and they're playing with advantage too.

We're underway in Belfast...you wonder how big an impact the conditions are going to have here.

Tommy Bowe
Former Ireland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

The players love [John Cooney], the supporters love him.

If he is to be leaving, you can only wish him well.

He's been an incredible servant to Ulster. But Ulster need to start looking to the young guys as well, the likes of Nathan Doak.

Give him an opportunity to lead this team into the future.

We're talking URC today, of course, but the Six Nations is just around the corner and British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell says it will be a "bit different" watching the championship unfold this year instead of leading the Ireland team.

The 49-year-old Englishman has guided Ireland to back-to-back Six Nations titles but is taking a sabbatical from the role to coach the Lions in this summer's tour to Australia.

"I'll be intrigued to watch from the sidelines - it will be a bit different for me, watching the Six Nations from the sidelines," Farrell told RTE.

"Not just that, [there's] the big games in Europe, the URC and Premiership etc. Good luck to everyone"

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite has been enjoying plenty of time on the pitch this season with usual centres James Hume and Stuart McCloskey both having been injured.

It's all a far cry from missing out on the side's academy when leaving RBAI in 2020, an omission he says "drove me a lot".

"Seeing Carsy and Doaky and all my good mates getting into the Academy drove me to where I want to be," he told BBC Sport NI.

Image source, Inpho

It's not only John Cooney who has a significant milestone in the offing with Lorcan McLoughlin selected for his first senior start.

The 22-year-old is named at blind-side flanker, joining Nick Timoney and David McCann in the back row.

Former Ireland Under-20 international McLoughlin made his debut for the Irish province as a replacement against the Lions last season - his only senior appearance before tonight.

The Ulster starting team shows six changes in personnel from that big 52-24 win over Exeter here last Friday.

Ulster: SMoore; M Lowry, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, J Cooney; E O'Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson; K Treadwell, H Sheridan; L McLoughlin, N Timoney (capt), D McCann.

Replacements: C Reid, J Andrew, C Barrett, A O'Connor, Matty Rea, N Doak, J Flannery, R Lyttle.

Image source, Inpho

It's a red letter day for one of the Ulster fans' favourites this evening as John Cooney makes his 150th appearance for the province.

The former Leinster and Connacht scrum-half has been a star in Belfast since coming to north to fill the sizeable shoes of Ruan Pienaar in 2017.

Rumours continue to swirl that he's in his final months in the white jersey but the 34-year-old is sure to get a huge reception from the Ulster faithful when the teams emerge in 20 minutes or so.

Image source, Inpho

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI at Kingspan Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a day for ducks, as we would say in Belfast.

Despite many umbrellas going inside out and puddles you almost need to row across, there were still plenty of smiles on the walk to the ground this evening.

In saying that, the terraces that would usually be filled to the brim from pitchside are tentatively being occupied from the back rows to take shelter from the rain.

It's not even blowing in one way, it's swirling about to ensure that everyone gets a good soaking.

Actually, on second thoughts, I think the ducks are even staying inside.

Ulster don't play many Sunday evening home games but Zebre are in town to conclude the United Rugby Championship weekend at a wet and windy Kingspan Stadium.

The northern province finally have a bit of momentum thanks to two wins from their past three games and can look forward - if that's the right phrase - to a Champions Cup last-16 trip to Bordeaux-Begles thanks to last weekend's big win against Exeter.

It's back to league action today, though, with Richie Murphy's men seeking a win that would propel them back into the URC play-off spots before the break for the opening rounds of the Six Nations.

We'll have live coverage on the iPlayer, as well as this page, from 17:15 GMT and live-text coverage throughout...great to have you with us!

Image source, Inpho