Herbst's South African compatriot and Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has established an impressive record at BT Murrayfield this season, with the Scotsmen winning their last eight games on home soil.

But Ulster claimed a last-gasp bonus-point win against Edinburgh back in October and after losing just one of their last four PRO12 matches, Herbst insists his side are confident they can do the double over the capital side.

"We know there will be a lot of scrums and a lot of long scrums. We know they like to dominate the lineouts also so we're expecting another physical encounter," he revealed.

"They're the in-form team at the moment in the PRO12. They're in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup and I think out of the last 15 games they've won 11.

"It's not going to be easy at all. You can't underestimate anyone.

"They've got that big intimidating stadium, but we don't want to be almost afraid to go and play. We have to go play and do what we have to do."

Ulster have been boosted by the news that Ireland international Iain Henderson will start for them after signing a new three-year contract with the Irish province this week.

Henderson starts in the second row and is one of two changes to the side that beat Treviso 43-3 at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.

The other sees Stuart McCloskey come back into the starting XV while Robbie Diack misses out through injury and Ian Humphreys wins his 99th cap for The Ulstermen.

Solomons makes three changes to his Edinburgh backline, with wingers Dougie Fife and Tim Visser returning from national team duty and stand-off Tom Heathcote moved up from the bench.

In the pack, lock Ben Toolis and flanker Hamish Watson are also released from Scotland squad camp for this fixture.

And following Richie Gray's injury and Tim Swinson's draft into the Scotland squad, Fraser McKenzie and Alex Toolis have been loaned to Glasgow Warriors - the former for this weekend's match only and the latter on a short-term loan.

Edinburgh will be confident heading into the match on the back of their impressive victory against former table-toppers Ospreys and after losing just one of their last five Guinness PRO12 encounters.

But Solomons believes facing a side in lying fourth in the GUINNESS PRO12 table - equal third on points with Ospreys - is an important test for his squad as they hunt for a Champions Cup place next season.

"It is good to have some of the national squad back with us," he admitted.

"They have slotted in extremely well and the team is looking forward to locking horns with one of the top teams in the competition."

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At BT Murrayfield 7.35pm. Live on BBC Sport Scotland and BBC NI
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 48th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White, Mike Adamson (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU)
TMO: David Changleng (SRU)