Ulster and Edinburgh are deadlocked on nine points and the victors at Ravenhill will pile the pressure on group leaders Stade Francais.

The home side will aim to maintain their 100 per cent home form in this season’s competition following emphatic wins over Bath and French giants Stade.

But Edinburgh hope to record a double having edged a narrow 17-13 success over the Irish province in the Pool Four clash at Murrayfield in October.

And the Scottish outfit warmed up for the chilly visit to Belfast with a morale-boosting 21-12 victory over Cardiff Blues in the only Magners League meeting which beat the weather.

Ulster Head Coach Brian McLaughlin said “Friday’s a massive game; we are all itching to get back to a game. Rugby is the players’ job, they work hard all week with a view to getting out there and playing on a Friday night, so they’re disappointed when that doesn’t happen.

“That being the case, Friday night cannot come quickly enough for them. A full house to watch Ulster’s most important match in years would be a tremendous boost.

“The supporters’ role in our victory over Munster in our last home game was massive. They helped us to keep going in the final 20 minutes when we were under huge pressure. They drove us home and all of us; the players’ and the coaching staff really appreciated that.

“We know Edinburgh and they know us, so there will be no room for error, we have to dominate the play if we are going to win.”