After an unbeaten pool stage campaign last year, which saw home and away victories over Northampton Saints and ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ulster will be aiming to get the 2022/23 pool stages off to a winning start.

With Sunday’s opposition currently sat second in the Gallagher Premiership, the road to the knockout stages is set to be a challenging one, with a home fixture at Kingspan Stadium against reigning champions La Rochelle due to follow next Saturday 17 December. Tickets for the La Rochelle game are still available at ulster.rugby/buytickets.

Ulster’s Defence Coach, and 1999 European Cup winner, Jonny Bell, is in no doubt about the battle that lies ahead for the squad in Round 1:

“Sale are a different animal. They are a big, physical, and aggressive side that are playing very well in the Premiership. It’ll be a huge test for us, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Marty Moore to make 50th European appearance

If called upon from the bench, Marty Moore is set to earn his 50th cap in European rugby after a decade of appearances. He’ll provide the cover for Tom O’Toole who is named as the starting tighthead prop.

Joining O’Toole in the front row are Ulster born and bred loosehead prop, Andy Warwick, and Ireland international hooker, Rob Herring, who put in a try-scoring performance off the bench last week against Leinster.

Alan O’Connor assumes the role of captain, and lines out in the second row alongside Ireland international, Kieran Treadwell, who enjoyed success over the summer as part of the Test-winning tour of New Zealand.

World Cup-winning Springbok, Duane Vermeulen, is named at Number 8, with Matty Rea at blindside flanker and another of Ulster’s Ireland internationals, Nick Timoney, completing the back row.

Mike Lowry, who made more metres with ball in hand than any other player in the Champions Cup last year with a total of 662m, is named at full back. Ethan McIlroy, who racked up the metres himself last week in the BKT United Rugby Championship to score a try, gets the call up for the back three, together with Jacob Stockdale.

Stuart McCloskey and James Hume get the nod in midfield, as Billy Burns, one of the few Ulster players to have already played at Sale Sharks’ home ground, is named at fly half. Nathan Doak steps up as scrum half to complete the starting line-up.

The forward cover alongside Moore on the bench is Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Sam Carter and Marcus Rea. Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore, and Ben Moxham will be hoping to get the call in the backline.

Ulster team to play Sale Sharks, Heineken Champions Cup Round 1, Sunday 11 December at AJ Bell Stadium (KO 1pm), live on BT Sport.

(15-9): Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8): Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Eric O’Sullivan, Marty Moore, Sam Carter, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham.