New signings Aidan Morgan and Corrie Barrett will make their competitive debuts for Ulster in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship opener at home to holders Glasgow.
Captain Iain Henderson returns to start in the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell after a toe injury forced him to miss Ireland’s summer tour of South Africa.
Barrett is in the front row, with Eric O’Sullivan at loosehead prop and John Andrew included at hooker.
Nathan Doak retains his place at scrum-half after starting the pre season friendly defeats against Benetton and Exeter Chiefs.
South African Werner Kok will also be hoping to make his competitive debut from the bench as he is named amongst the replacements.
Richie Murphy is without a number of experienced players for the game against the reigning URC champions due to injury.
John Cooney has a hamstring problem whilst Rob Herring is ruled out of the game with a calf issue and fellow hooker Tom Stewart is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Backs James Hume, Robert Baloucoune and Jake Flannery also miss out through injury.
Back row Reuben Crothers (knee) and wings Aaron Sexton (hamstring) and Zac Ward (groin) picked up injuries in Ulster’s pre-season defeat by Exeter and are unavailable.
Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, David McCann, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: James McCormick, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Werner Kok.
