Ulster arrive into the Stade Marcel-Michelin today hoping to become the first non-French side to win at the venue since 2008. They take on Clermont Auvergne at 3.05pm, a week after the Irish province narrowly won a nine-try classic at Kingspan Stadium.

Here’s how both teams will line-up:

Clermont Auvergne

15. Isaia Toeava
14. Noa Nakaitaci
13. Remi Lamerat
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Nick Abendanon
10. Camille Lopez
9. Morgan Parra

1. Etienne Falgoux
2. Benjamin Kayser
3. Davit Zirakashvili
4. Arthur Iturria
5. Sébastien Vahaamahina
6. Viktor Kolelishvili
7. Alexandre Lapandry
8. Damien Chouly (captain)

Replacements:

16. John Ulugia
17. Thomas Domingo
18. Michael Simutoga
19. Flip van der Merwe
20. Peceli Yato
21. Ludovic Radosavljevic
22. Patricio Fernandez
23. Aurelien Rougerie

Ulster

15. Charles Piutau
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Luke Marshall
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Louis Ludik
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar

1. Kyle McCall
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Peter Browne
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Sean Reidy

Replacements:

16. Rob Herring
17. Andy Warwick
18. Rodney Ah You
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. Clive Ross
21. Paul Marshall
22. Darren Cave
23. Jacob Stockdale

Here’s some pre-match reading for you from Sean Farrell:

In a year full of historical landmarks for Irish rugby, Ulster are targetting victory in one of Europe’s most daunting venues today (kick-off 15.05 Irish time, Sky Sports 4).

Stade Marcel Michelin is the stage for what head coach Les Kiss hopes will be a repeat result, with an improved performance after last weekened’s thrilling win over Clermont.

The Top 14 leaders showed enough quality and character in the closing stages at Kingspan Stadium last Saturday to leave Ulster in no doubt that they will have their hands full. But after Tommy Bowe thinks back to a trip he made to the venue with Ospreys, he stressed the need to fight fire with fire.

Almost set to go in France, we’re about seven minutes away from kick-off.

TRY! Clermont 7-0 Ulster (Toeava, 2)

Clermont take the lead inside the opening minute. Full-back Toeava races through the gain line and sidesteps past the last Ulster defender. Stunning start from Clermont and Parra converts the early strike.

Clermont have started this game on top. They lead 7-0 after a lightning-fast start. Ulster have managed just one sustained attack inside the Clermont 22, but Luke Marshall’s poor pass to Ludik saw the move break down.

TRY! Clermont 14-0 Ulster (Abendanon, 18)

Abendanon has been something else since he’s moved to France. He finishes a chance in the corner after a sweeping Clermont move. Parra threads the conversion through the gap from the tightest of angles.

Clermont are on fire and the fans are loving this. Everything has gone right for the French side so far today. Ulster are really struggling to retain the ball in the tackle.

TRY! Clermont 21-0 Ulster (Abendanon, 25)

Abendanon gobbles up the chance after a wonderful crossfield kick into his path by fly-half Camille Lopez. Parra again converts.

Ulster are turning over possession far too often. Morgan Parra kicks a penalty wide.

Clermont lead 21-0 as we approach the final five minutes of the half.

Ulster could really do with a score before the interval. Getting something on the board would give them a bit of momentum heading into half-time.

Ulster enjoyed their best spell in the game. McCluskey ran straight at Lopez after the lineout. They’ve a scrum just five metres from the try line. Big moment here.

HALF-TIME: Clermont 21-0 Ulster

Clermont are in full control and it will take something pretty special for Ulster to turn this around.

We’re back underway for the second-half.

TRY! Clermont 28-0 Ulster (Lopez, 43)

Another hammerblow at the beginning of a half for Ulster. Lopez stepped up from his defensive line and intercepted an inviting pass inside his own half. It was a foot race to the try line and Lopez had the legs to add another five points. Parra makes no mistake from the conversion.

The men in blue and yellow are putting on a show here. Clermont have the bonus point wrapped up and we’ve still got 35 minutes to play.

Ulster get the ball over the try line, but did they touch the ball down? The referee goes to the TMO who instructs him not to award the try.

It was  Sean Reidy whho slid in but Abendanon was there to hold the ball up. Offloading to Henderson might have been the better option by Reidy.

TRY! Clermont 28-7 Ulster (Bowe, 56)

Ulster are finally on the scoreboard. Tommy Bowe touches down in the corner after an extended period of pressure. Paddy Jackson converts.

Clermont royalty Aurelien Rougerie has joined the action off the bench. He’s been a member of the club for 30 years, having joined as a six-year-old.

Ulster are back in this now. They’re closing in on another try with a maul from close-range.

We’ve gone to the TMO. Looks like he’s going to give it…

TRY! Clermont 28-14 Ulster (van der Merwe, 61)

Ulster are bit by bit working their way back into the match. They score a second try after a maul drove over the try line. It’s van der Merwe who touches the ball down. They’ve got a bit of a spring in their step now. Jackson does the business from the conversion. That’s 14 unanswered points from Ulster.

Is the comeback on? A losing bonus point is certainly within their sights. There’s 65 minutes on the clock.

TRY! Clermont 28-19 Ulster (Bowe, 65)

Tommy Bowe again. A sweeping Ulster move from a lineout resulted in the Monaghan man taking the ball on the burst and he touched down unopposed. That’s the seventh try we’ve witnessed in this game. Jackson missed the conversion but we’ve got a game on our hands. It only took about 60 minutes to get going.

PENALTY! Clermont 31-19 Ulster (Lopez, 69)

Clermont are into the 30s but nothing changes for Ulster. They need to keep scoring.

We’re now witnessing Claremont’s scrapping qualities as they attempt to shut this game down.

TRY! Clermont 38-19 Ulster (Penalty try, 79)

Paddy Jackson is sinbinned and Clermont are awarded a penalty try. Lopez applies the afters.

For a few minutes there was more than a glimmer of hope for Ulster but Clermont upped the level of intensity and physicality and closed the game out.

Clermont are breezing into the European quarter-finals.

FULL-TIME: CLERMONT 38-19 ULSTER

Jackson was penalised for swatting the ball away as Clermont attacked down the flank.

Here’s the state of play in Pool 5:

Ulster showed some real fighting spirit in the second-half but they left themselves with far too much work to do after a disastrous opening 40 minutes. That’s all from us today. Thanks for joining.