Overview
- The Challenge Cup quarter-final kicks off in Belfast on Friday at 8pm local time at Affidea Stadium, with a place in the last four on the line.
- Ulster restore Tom Stewart at hooker and recall Jack Murphy at fly-half beside Nathan Doak, with Jacob Stockdale at fullback and Zac Ward starting on the left wing.
- Iain Henderson captains from the second row as Cormac Izuchukwu reaches his 50th Ulster appearance.
- Ulster arrive in the last eight after a 28-24 Round of 16 win over Ospreys, a four-try effort that turned after the break.
- La Rochelle travel under Ronan O'Gara with captain Thomas Berjon at scrum-half, and Irish media report several frontline players are absent; Hollie Davidson referees with Sam Grove-White and Sara Cox on the touchlines and Mike Adamson as TMO.