Ulster have been drawn alongside French giants Stade Francais, Harlequins and Llanelli Scarlets in Pool Four of next season's Heineken Cup.
Stade Franacis and the Scarlets are familiar opponents for Ulster but there will be a first meeting with English side Harlequins in the competition.
Champions Munster will take on Sale and French sides Clermont Auvergne and Montauban in Pool One.
Leinster are up against Wasps, Castres and Edinburgh in Pool Two.
Leicester are in possibly the toughest pool with French side Perpignan and Welsh side the Ospreys.
The draw in Dublin was seeded for the first time, with 24 teams from six nations split into four tiers.
Last season's runners-up Toulouse are in Pool Five with Bath, Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow, while Gloucester are pitted against French giants Biarritz, Cardiff Blues and Calvisano of Italy.
Ulster and Ireland utility back Andrew Trimble was happy with the draw.
"When you look at the quality sides out there you could do a lot worse although there's no such thing as an easy draw or an easy match," he said.
"All our opponents can produce big performances and results so I think we are going to be up against it.
"We really have to regain our home form and get a couple of results on the road."
Trimble added that he will fit for the new season after having surgery on a minor leg injury.
Heineken Cup 2008/09 draw:
Pool 1
Munster (Ire)
Sale (Eng)
Clermont Auvergne (Fra)
Montauban (Fra)
Pool 2
Wasps (Eng)
Leinster (Ire)
Castres (Fra)
Edinburgh (Sco)
Pool 3
Leicester (Eng)
Perpignan (Fra)
Ospreys (Wal)
Treviso (Ita)
Pool 4
Stade Francais (Fra)
Llanelli (Wal)
Ulster (Ire)
Harlequins (Eng)
Pool 5
Toulouse (Fra)
Bath (Eng)
Newport Gwent Dragons (Wal)
Glasgow (Sco)
Pool 6
Biarritz (Fra)
Gloucester (Eng)
Cardiff (Wal)
Calvisano (Ita)
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