Toulouse got back to winning ways in the Top 14 this week with a bonus-point win over Oyonnax but have not been quite at their best in recent weeks.
They came away with nothing from trips to Saracens in the Champions Cup and Racing 92 in the league, while their only home game in Europe was also against Oyonnax, which they edged 24-18.
Ugo Mola has picked a strong side including recently retired France captain Thierry Dusautoir alongside his potential replacement in the back row Yacouba Camara. Former Leicester fly-half Toby Flood will line up in the centres as he has often so far this season.
Ulster come into the game on the back of a hard-fought victory over Edinburgh at the Kingspan Stadium, having gone down 8-3 at Leinster the week before.
Les Kiss' side lost their first game in the competition against Saracens, with their clash against Oyonnax a week earlier having been postponed.
Friday December 11, kick-off 7:45pm UK/Ire
Ulster: Louis Ludik, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar, Kyle McCall, Rory Best, Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O'Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andy Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes
Toulouse: Clément Poitrenaud, Vincent Clerc, Gaël Fickou, Toby Flood, Maxime Médard, Luke McAlister, Sébastien Bézy, Vasil Kakovin, Corey Flynn, Census Johnston, Yoann Maestri, Joe Tekori, Yacouba Camara, Thierry Dusautoir, Louis Picamoles
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, Edwin Maka, Grégory Lamboley, Gillian Galan, Jean-Marc Doussain, Alexis Palisson
Cardiff Blues v Montpellier
Montpellier have faded in recent weeks after a strong start to the season and came away with nothing from their last game away to Castres in the Top 14.
Jake White's cosmopolitan squad has now welcomed all of its World Cup stars back, and hooker Bismarck Du Plessis will make his first start for the club in the Welsh capital, having debuted off the bench last week.
Fly-half François Trinh-Duc is currently out with a leg injury so Ben Lucas steps into his boots, while Benjamin Fall will aim to press his case for a France recall from full-back.
The Blues picked up a morale-boosting win over then GUINNESS PRO12 leaders Connacht last time out and both sides have five points from their first two games in the pool.
Friday December 11, kick-off 7:30pm UK/Ire
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish, Alex Cuthbert, Rey Lee-Lo, Gavin Evans, Tom James, Rhys Patchell, Lloyd Williams, Sam Hobbs, Kristian Dacey, Tau Filise, Jarrad Hoeata, James Down, Macauley Cook, Josh Navidi, Josh Turnbull
Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Gethin Jenkins, Craig Mitchell, Scott Andrews, Cam Dolan, Tavis Knoyle, Jarrod Evans, Garyn Smith
Montpellier: Benjamin Fall, Timoci Nagusa, Anthony Tuitavake, Robert Ebersohn, Julien Malzieu, Benjamin Lucas, Benoit Paillaugue, Jamie Mackintosh, Bismarck Du Plessis, Pat Cilliers, Jacques Du Plessis, Paul Willemse, Wiaan Liebenberg, Antoine Battut, Akapusi Qera
Replacements: Charles Géli, Mikheil Nariashvili, Nicolas Mas, Robins Tchale-Watchou, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Cameron Wright, Demetri Catrakilis, Anthony Floch
Connacht v Newcastle
Newcastle return to European action still in search of a first Premiership win, having been hammered 38-3 at home to Saracens last time out.
The previous week they had managed a valuable draw at Sale Sharks, and are currently two points off bottom thanks to that.
Their only win of the season so far came in their last European game, as they cruised past Enisei, and Zach Kibirige, man of the match in that game, starts on the wing. Dean Richards has rung the changes from the Sarries game with the likes of scrum-half Tane Takulua and lock Mouritz Botha starting.
Connacht will be looking to bounce back from last week's loss to Cardiff Blues but Pat Lam is having to deal with a number of injuries for the pool leaders.
Friday December 11, kick-off 7:45pm UK/Ire
Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, Finlay Bealham, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, Sean O'Brien, James Connolly, George Naoupu
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Conan O'Donnell, Rodney Ah You, Danny Qualter, David Heffernan, Ian Porter, Shane O'Leary, Danie Poolman
Newcastle: Simon Hammersley, Dan Marshall, Tom Penny, Chris Harris, Zach Kibirige, Craig Willis, Tane Takulua, Alex Rogers, Scott Lawson, Taione Vea, Will Witty, Mouritz Botha, Richard Mayhew, Dan Temm, Allister Hogg
Replacements: Rob Vickers, Ben Harris, Andy Foster, Calum Green, Callum Chick, Ruaridh Dawson, Juan Socino, Marcus Watson
La Rochelle v Zebre
La Rochelle have made a promising start to the season with four wins from ten games as they look to build on last season and avoid a relegation battle in the Top 14.
They were comfortable victors against Grenoble last time out but in the Challenge Cup they are still looking for a first win after defeats to Premiership pair Gloucester and Worcester.
Patrice Collazo has named a mixed side which features club captain and France tighthead Uini Atonio, as well as promising France U20s centre Elliot Roudil.
Zebre come into the game on the back of successive defeats, but were big winners in their last European game at home to Worcester.
Friday December 11, kick-off 7:00pm UK/Ire
La Rochelle: Benjamin Lapeyre, Lancelot Luteau, Elliot Roudil, Malietoa Hingano, Kini Murimurivalu, Fabien Fortassin, Jules Lebail, Thomas Synaeghel, Maxime Gau, Uini Atonio, Damien Lagrange, Leo Cedaro, Romain Sazy, Zeno Kieft, Jone Qovu
Replacements: Benjamin Geledan, Jordan Seneca, Gaga Bazadze, Romana Graham, Benoit Guyot, Ricky Januarie, Jean-Pascal Barraque, Kamilieni Raivono
Zebre: Mils Muliaina, Kayle van Zyl, Giulio Bisegni, Matteo Pratichetti, Michele Visentin, Edoardo Padovani, Luke Burgess, Andrea de Marchi, Victor Coria, Pietro Ceccarelli, Valerio Bernabo, Marco Bortolami, Filippo Ferrarini, Johan Meyer, Paul Derbyshire
Replacements: Tommaso D'Apice, Andrea Lovotti, Dario Chistolini, Federico Ruzza, Flippo Cristiano, Guglielmo Palazzani, Giulio Toniolatti, Carlo Canna
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