Other scalps included Bath and Edinburgh, and McLaughlin demanded his team show the same form on home soil this time round.

"We are defending a home record in Europe and want that to continue. We know we have not performed as we would have liked to in recent matches, but the key is we kept on winning and that is a major plus going into this game,” said McLaughlin.

"Aironi present a different Italian challenge than clubs from there previously in Europe. They are a provincial side and include a wealth of internationals in almost every position.”

Ulster welcome back fly-half Ian Humphreys for his first start of the season in place of Niall O'Connor, while second row Tim Barker replaces Dan Tuohy.

The changes come after long-serving full-back Bryn Cunningham, the sole survivor of Ulster’s 1999 European Cup-winning side, retired this week due to injury.

Winless Aironi will be without both skipper Quintin Geldenhuys and Italian international Fabio Ongaro.

Elsewhere, Heineken Cup heavyweights Leinster host French Top 14 pacesetters Racing Metro 92 on Saturday, boosted by the news that Jonathan Sexton will most likely be available.

Fellow Irish giants Munster visit the Madejski Stadium to take on Aviva Premiership leaders London Irish without Tomas O'Leary, who injured his thumb in last week’s defeat to Leinster.