The Ireland international has not played since he suffered an ankle injury in November 2012 but is set to appear as a replacement in this rearranged fixture.

The game was postponed from its original date of Valentines' night, 14th February, due to a waterlogged pitch.

Ulster havelost just once in the RaboDirect PRO12 since round 7 in early November: 6-19 to Leinster at the RDS on 28 December.

And with Ferris back in contention Ulster are only getting stronger - to the delight of Pienaar.

"I think everyone is excited. We have seen how hard he has worked and I think he is raring to go and I am really excited," he said.

"Everyone will be cheering him on once he gets back on the pitch."

Ulster assistant coach Neil Doak added: "We're just playing it day by day. He hasn't played a lot of rugby in the last couple of seasons but he has been training really hard over the last wee while and they just want to make sure and that he is as close to 100 per cent as possible."

Ulster's only defeat at Ravenhill this season came in their first home match, 12-13 to Glasgow in the PRO12 on 13th September.

The only Welsh region to have won in Belfast in the last four seasons was the Ospreys in 2013.

Scarlets toppled league leading Munster last time out and have now won their last three PRO12 encounters, their best run for 12 months.

Scarlets have won two of their last three away games in all tournaments but have won on just one of their last seven visits to an Irish province: 24-21 against Connacht in November 2013.

Scarlets were victorious 17-9 when the two teams met at Parc y Scarlets in round 7, but the Welshmen have only once before achieved a season's double over the Ulstermen - in 2008/09.

The Scarlets have won on just two of their previous 13 visits to Ravenhill in all tournaments: 35-11 in the European Cup in January 2007, and 16-9 in the PRO12 in September 2008.

Scarlets winger Frazier Climo said: "It's definitely going to be a big match, we're going to have to be at our best. Not many teams go there and come away with points.

"We've trained really well and if we put all the things in place that we've practiced we'll give ourselves a good chance."
"Hopefully the weather stays like this and it'll be a good chance for us to spin the ball wide and have a real crack at them."

At Ravenhill Stadium, 7.05pm. Live on BBC NI
Referee: Neil Hennessy (WRU, 19th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Gary Conway, Gary Glennon (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Wayne Sheridan (IRFU)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)