Aidan Morgan of Ulster gets us underway in Belfast.

Which of the provinces will have the bragging rights come the final whistle? We are about to find out.

December doesn't just mean Christmas in the rugby world...it's contract season too.

This week we've had Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Bundee Aki all signing fresh terms with the IRFU.

Meanwhile, up at Ulster, former sevens star Zac Ward has signed his first professional deal with his native province, while full-back Mike Lowry and centre Ben Carson have bagged a contract extensions too.

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Tom O'Toole is back in Ulster's number three jersey this evening but the 26-year-old has been speaking this week about the concussion he suffered on Ireland duty against the All Blacks last month.

"Well, to be honest, I don't really remember much of it," he said.

"That probably made it a little bit... not easier because there was more confusion afterwards. I think it probably took me until about Tuesday to get fully right.

"The medical staff, they were unbelievably supportive; all the coaching staff, all the players down in camp looked after me really well. That made it easier. I stayed down, did my return to play stuff which was good, I was still in the squad and everyone helped me when they could."

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Jonathan Bradley
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Kingspan Stadium

There's plenty of interesting battles across the park this evening but perhaps none bigger than the head-to-head between the back-rows.

Ulster will miss Cormac Izuchukwu and Nick Timoney while Munster are able to bring Gavin Coombes back into their number 8 jersey.

You figure getting the upper hand there will be key to victory.

Plenty of you out there will be finishing up for Christmas today but Ulster's players aren't thinking of the festivities just yet.

Indeed, only a win tonight is on the mind of Mike Lowry.

"There will be a bit of turkey and we'll get a couple of days off, but I'm so focused on the game that Christmas is almost a second priority for me," he said.

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Ulster have lost their past four games but forwards coach Jimmy Duffy is confident results will turn soon.

"The lads care which is the big thing," said Duffy.

"You can see it on their faces and there's been a lot of niggle in training over the last number of weeks, which is good - niggle in the right way.

"People want to get better and they want to win, so it'll come. It will come."

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There's no Billy Burns in the Munster 23 this evening but the former Ulster fly-half is back in Belfast to watch his team-mates in action.

The 30-year-old was with Ulster from 2018 until leaving for Munster during the summer.

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Ulster make four changes in the forwards. Andrew Warwick replaces Eric O'Sullivan at loosehead prop, Alan O'Connor deputises for injured captain Iain Henderson in the second row while James McNabney and Marcus Rea are recalled to the back row.

Zac Ward is retained on the left wing after making his debut in last week's defeat by Bordeaux, while John Cooney makes a welcome return at scrum-half. Jack Murphy could make his competitive debut from the bench.

Munster make six changes to the side that lost to Castres in Europe last weekend with Shane Daly, Paddy Patterson, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Jack O'Donoghue and Gavin Coombes all recalled.

Ireland forwards Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne are not involved for Munster who, like Ulster, have three wins and four defeats in this season's URC.

Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Zac Ward; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole; Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Marcus Rea, David McCann.

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O'Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matty Rea, Dave Shanahan, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer.

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Paddy Patterson; John Ryan, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Dave Kilcoyne, Oli Jager, Evan O'Connell, Alex Kendellen, Ethan Coughlan, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson.

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Hello and welcome to our coverage of the first of the season's festive interpros.

We have Ulster and Munster going head to head in Belfast tonight with both teams in need of a victory.

Ulster, who are on a four-game losing run, sit 10th in the URC table, one point and one position better off than tonight's opponents.

We'll have live-text coverage right here, as well as live radio on BBC Sounds from 19:30 GMT.

Which side will be able to enjoy their Christmas turkey this year? Let's find out!

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