Ireland international, Jared Payne, starts at fullback for the first time this season while Louis Ludik moves to the right wing in place of Tommy Bowe.
Cave is selected at outside-centre for his 150th game for his province and is partnered in midfield by fellow international Stuart Olding.
Michael Allen comes into the side on the left wing with Paddy Jackson and Springbok scrum-half, Ruan Pienaar, named in the halfbacks.
There is a completely new front row with Andrew Warwick picked at loosehead, Rob Herring selected at hooker and Bronson Ross, who starts his first game for Ulster, named at tighthead in place of the injured Wiehahn Herbst.
Alan O’Connor continues in the second row where he is joined by Franco van der Merwe who returns to the side having been ill last week.
In the back row, Clive Ross moves to openside, Mike McComish is selected at blindside and captain Roger Wilson starts the game at Number 8.
Forwards John Andrew, Callum Black, Declan Fitzpatrick, Lewis Stevenson and Robbie Diack join backs Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys and Michael Heaney on the replacements bench.
The game is live on Sky Sports 2 and BBC Radio Ulster.
Ulster’s next game is against Leicester Tigers at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 24th January (kick off 17:30). Tickets for this game are still available and can be purchased here.