MOMENTUM-SHIFTING TURNOVERS, eye-catching offloads, relentlessly aggressive ball-carrying – Marcell Coetzee tends to deliver time and time again for Ulster.

He is undoubtedly the talisman of Dan McFarland’s team and would make a strong addition to virtually any back row in the game.

So it’s no real surprise that Ulster tend to miss Coetzee badly when he’s absent, as for the recent Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Toulouse, where the number eight’s all-action impact would be been very helpful.

This evening at Rodney Parade, Ulster are again without the South African, who hasn’t been named in their matchday 23 for the Guinness Pro14 clash with Cardiff Blues [KO 6pm].

The returns of scrum-half John Cooney and inside centre Stuart McCloskey – two other totems of this Ulster team – from Ireland camp are timely in that regard. Neither of them were involved in Paris on Saturday night so are back on provincial duty with a point to prove to Andy Farrell. McCloskey last played in September due to an elbow injury.

Furthermore, McFarland will be happy to welcome out-half Billy Burns back into his starting XV this evening, with the 26-year-old resuming the captaincy after his recovery from injury and with club captain Iain Henderson still suspended.

The boosts continue on the bench with influential centre Luke Marshall’s first involvement since the restart of rugby in August. His absence has allowed James Hume and Stewart Moore to get game time, but Marshall’s calm influence will be important as he gets back up and running in the coming weeks.

All in all, Ulster have welcomed back some important senior figure but Coetzee’s absence in the back row will have to be accounted for.

The hard-working, mobile Nick Timoney starts in the number eight shirt, while Ireland international Jordi Murphy is at openside and Matty Rea – set for his 50th Ulster cap – is at blindside. This would be the perfect occasion for 27-year-old Rea, who is capable of real dynamism, to show he is maturing into the kind of player who bosses games.

Ulster are three from three so far this season. Matt Mackey / INPHO Matt Mackey / INPHO / INPHO

Collectively, Ulster will look for more of the clinical edge they showed in the first half against Dragons in Belfast last weekend, rather than the frustrating, error-strewn display they delivered in the second half.

Cardiff Blues, meanwhile, have made two changes after their absorbing defeat away to Munster last Monday, with head coach John Mulvihill bringing the hard-working Josh Turnbull and jackal threat Will Boyde into his back row.

As Ulster look to make it four wins from four to start this 2020/21 season, McFarland needs his men to ensure Coetzee’s absence isn’t too apparent.

Cardiff Blues:

 Ulster: