Published Friday, 20 January 2012
He comes in to the team in place of injured centre Darren Cave.
Brian McLaughlin has had consistency in selection over recent weeks but the loss of Cave is a big blow for Ulster ahead of a massive encounter at Stade Marcel Michelin.
Whitten though, has had plenty of game time and is a more than able replacement in midfield.
The Ulster coach can also call on Nevin Spence who has returned from injury and available from the bench.
Johann Muller will once again lead an all-international pack, in which loose forwards Stephen Ferris, Chris Henry and Pedrie Wannenburg have been in excellent form.
Ulster's match winners against Leicester, Ruan Pienaar and Andrew Trimble, will be instrumental to Ulster's hope of victory this time out. Stefan Terblanche gets the nod over Adam D'Arcy at fullback.
Apart from the inclusion of Spence, the only other change among the replacements is Andi Kyriacou coming in for Nigel Brady. The hooker will earn his 50th cap for the Province if he gets any time on the pitch.
No Ulster team has won in France in 14 attempts, while their hosts on Saturday are unbeaten at home in 38 matches.
But Ulster will be buoyed by the performance against Leicester last week and are determined to create history by making the knockout stages in two consecutive years for the first time in their history.
Attack coach Neil Doak said: "This weekend is all about clearing the next hurdle in our progression. It was great to reach the quarter-finals last year and be highly competitive against Northampton Saints, but the game in Clermont is much bigger than last year's quarter-final.
Ulster team: S Terblanche; A Trimble, I Whitten, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar;
T. Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg;
Replacements: A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, P Marshall, N Spence, A D'Arcy