Director of Rugby Les Kiss has made just one change to the starting XV for Ulster’s clash away to Clermont Auvergne, from the side that defeated the Top 14 table-toppers last weekend.

Franco van der Merwe will come into the second row to replace his fellow South African native Robbie Diack, who has been ruled out by injury and could be out for up to four weeks.

The rest of the match day squad remains unchanged, which means captain Rory Best and props Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst will make up the front row, with Ireland trio Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Sean Reidy named in the back row.

Half backs Ruan Pienaar and Paddy Jackson are again joined in the backline by Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Louis Ludik, Tommy Bowe and Charles Piutau.

Ulster v Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin, Sunday December 18 – kick-off – 3.05pm Irish time.

Ulster team: C Piutau, T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, L Ludik, P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best – capt., W Herbst, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy.

Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Ah You, K Treadwell, C Ross, P Marshall, D Cave, J Stockdale.