Les Kiss has named a strong Ulster team for the trip to play Cardiff Blues in the PRO12 on Saturday.
Stuart McCloskey will make his first appearance for the Province since September, after overcoming a foot injury he sustained in the PRO12 win against Glasgow.
McCloskey will be joined in midfield by fellow Irish international Luke Marshall, while Ruan Pienaar and Brett Herron will continue their half back partnership. The experienced trio of Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy and Charles Piutau will occupy the back three positions.
Chris Henry will make his first appearance of the season following his selection at openside flanker.
Iain Henderson is selected at number six. Sean Reidy is the other loose forward included by Kiss, meaning all three back row players are capped by Ireland.
Pete Browne and Franco van der Merwe have been paired together in the second row, with captain Rob Herring set to be joined in the front row by props Kyle McCall and Wiehahn Herbst.
Here's your Ulster team to take on Cardiff Blues tomorrow. What are your thoughts? #CARvULS pic.twitter.com/HrHxEqI917
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 2, 2016
Ulster team v Cardiff Blues BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday December 9 – kick-off 5.15pm.
Ulster team: C Piutau, T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy, B Herron, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Herring (capt), W Herbst, P Browne, F van der Merwe, I Henderson, C Henry, S Reidy.
Replacements): J Andrew, A Warwick, R Ah You, K Treadwell, C Ross, P Marshall, L Ludik, D Cave.
