Chris Dean and Matt Scott maintain their partnership at centre with Will Helu retaining his place on the left wing. Meanwhile in half-backs, stand-off Phil Burleigh is paired with scrum-half Sean Kennedy as Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is out with a hand injury.
Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and WP Nel again make up the front row with Anton Bresler returning to partner Alex Toolis in the second row, with Fraser McKenzie sidelined with a neck injury. Mike Coman again leads the team at blindside with John Hardie at openside and Cornell Du Preez completing the back row.
While Edinburgh sit one place above the hosts in the table, through having achieved more wins, seven of Ulster's 23 points come from bonus points, as opposed to three out of 23 for the visitors.
Head coach Alan Solomons said: "Last Friday's bonus-point win over Dragons was important for us and we must build on that momentum, going into tomorrow's match.
"Ulster at the Kingspan in front of a home crowd will be a tough ask, without a doubt, and we have to make sure that we are at our best. This will be a real test for the team, and especially for our strength in depth, bearing in mind our heavy injury toll."
The brief return to league action comes between two opening pool wins against FC Grenoble and away to Agen, and two back-to-back fixtures against London Irish which kick off next weekend, affording Edinburgh the opportunity to nail the mid-table position going into this year's 1872 Scottish Cup derby with Glasgow Warriors.
Solomons added: "We have the benefit of a relatively unchanged line-up going into this match, and welcome back Anton Bresler and Dougie Fife from injury, to add stability to the second row and backs respectively. With Fraser McKenzie out, Anton's return is particularly timely."
"Though we've beaten Ulster twice this season - at home in the PRO12 and in our pre-season friendly - we know we have to be absolutely at the top of our game on Friday."
The last time Edinburgh achieved a season league double over the Ulstermen was in 2007/8 and have not won in Belfast since September 2009.
Players not considered due to injury: Tom Brown (shoulder), Grant Gilchrist (groin), Roddy Grant (knee), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (hand), Damien Hoyland (leg), Otulea Katoa (leg), Nasi Manu (neck), Stuart McInally (neck), Fraser McKenzie (neck), Jade Te Rure (knee), Greig Tonks (leg), Ben Toolis (arm), George Turner (shoulder).
Mince pies, fairy lights and the 1872 Scottish Cup
The annual inter-city derby kicks off at BT Murrayfield this year when current Cup holders Edinburgh meet Glasgow, with Scottish pride, bragging rights - and the chance to catch the eye of the national coaching team ahead of the RBS 6 Nations - at stake. Tickets for the match on Sunday 27 December (kick-off 3.05pm) are on sale now, online, by phone (0131 346 5180) and in person from the Ticket Centre in Roseburn Street. Add them to your Christmas wish list and start a festive tradition!
Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster
Friday 4 December 2015, Kingspan Stadium, k/o 7.35pm
15 Jack Cuthbert
14 Dougie Fife
13 Chris Dean
12 Matt Scott
11 Will Helu
10 Phil Burleigh
9 Sean Kennedy
1 Alasdair Dickinson
2 Ross Ford
3 WP Nel
4 Anton Bresler
5 Alex Toolis
6 Mike Coman (capt)
7 John Hardie
8 Cornell Du Preez
Substitutes
16 Neil Cochrane
17 Rory Sutherland
18 John Andress
19 Jamie Ritchie
20 Hamish Watson
21 Nathan Fowles
22 Michael Allen
23 Blair Kinghorn
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