A victory for the home team would take the Scarlets, who have won their last three games, above Ulster, who reached the play-offs last season, but Davies' side have failed to beat Irish opposition in their last ten encounters.

Furthermore, last season Ulster completed a first ever double over the Scarlets, who are able to welcome back some of their Welsh internationals to the bench including hooker Ken Owens, who starts, along with Scott Williams and Tavis Knoyle.

Also among the replacements is Wales captain Matthew Rees who missed the World Cup to have a neck operation and Davies is hoping for a packed house at Parc y Scarlets to roar his side to victory.

"This is a big game for us and we know how close we run with Ulster in performance and how closely we'll compete in getting a top four spot," he said.

"The results against them will have an important bearing later on the four positions in the league and we're looking forward to Saturday's game.

"We're really hoping for a great home support on Saturday - the away supporters at Cardiff last weekend were a huge boost to the team.

"Credit to the some of our less experienced players who've worked hard in recent weeks and taken their opportunities well to get that winning momentum back and to get that support from the crowds makes a real difference to them.

"The boys have put in a lot of hard work this week and we're focused on putting right that last game out in Ravenhill at the end of last season, which was a bitterly disappointing outcome."

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin meanwhile has the luxury of including six internationals in his starting XV as he looks to arrest a worrying slump in form.

After winning their first three games, Ulster have lost to Ospreys, Dragons and Treviso two weeks ago - and McLaughlin makes seven changes.

Skipper Johann Muller comes into to the second row, with fellow Springbok Ruan Pienaar coming into at scrum-half.

There's a new look back three in the shape of Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli and Craig Gilroy while Ireland prop Tom Court also starts.

And McLaughlin admits the returning internationals have given him some tough selection dilemmas. He said: "We've had a very positive week with Johann at the helm as captain and we're looking to put in a positive performance on Saturday. When you and in Andrew, Simon, Paddy, Tom and Ruan, we are starting to take a bit more shape.

"The guys who have played up until now have done a great job and they will get plenty of opportunities as the season progresses, with so many games on the horizon.

"We had to make a few tough decisions in terms of selection. Leaving Darren Cave out of the side was very difficult considering the form he was in. Paddy (Wallace) and Nevin (Spence) struck up a good relationship last season and it's a tried and tested combination. We know with Darren on the bench, it will give us a bit of quality there and it gives us great options.

"We have a long run of games now and it's important that we get off on the right foot against Scarlets. We will be looking for a good performance as well as a good result."

At Parc y Scarlets, 3pm.
Referee: Alan Falzone (FIR, 6th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gwynn Morris, Rhys Thomas (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner : Gwyn Bowden (WRU)