Both Connacht and Ulster have made changes ahead of their meeting in Belfast this weekend as both seek to bounce back from losses in their inter-provincial fixtures last week.
Connacht captain Jarrad Butler has returned from injury to take his place in the Connacht starting team to face Ulster on Friday in Kingspan Stadium (Kick off 7:35pm).
Butler is one of four changes to the Connacht side that started against Leinster last weekend. Academy player Paul Boyle also comes into the back row where he is named at number 8.
There is one change in the front row as Tom McCartney starts at hooker in place of the injured Dave Heffernan who captained the team against Leinster. The remainder of the front 5 is unchanged with props Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham both included as is Ultan Dillane and Quinn Roux in the second row.
Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion continue their half back partnership as do Bundee Aki and Tom Farrell in the midfield.
Matt Healy’s return from injury on the wing sees him included in a back three that includes Niyi Adeolokun on the opposite wing and Tiernan O’Halloran at full back.
For Ulster, Rory Best and Jacob Stockdale will make their first appearances of the season in the weekend's game as the province aim to recover from their harrowing 64-7 thrashing at the hands of Munster in Thomond Park last week.
The pair have recovered from their respective injuries and take their places in the starting XV for Ulster's first home inter-provincial fixture of the 2018/19 campaign.
Best will captain the side on his return and will join Tom O’Toole and Andy Warwick in the front row.
Marcell Coetzee has returned from a shoulder injury and will pack down at number 8, alongside Matthew Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.
John Cooney and Billy Burns are retained in the half back positions, while Stuart McCloskey and Angus Curtis are paired together in midfield for the first time. Jacob Stockdale, Angus Kernohan and Peter Nelson will combine in the back three.
Replacement lock Kieran Treadwell is set to make his 50th appearance for the Province and is joined on the bench by fellow forwards Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane and Sean Reidy.
Johnny McPhillips could make his first appearance of the season after being named in the match day squad, while Dave Shanahan and James Hume, a debutant last week against Munster, are also included.
Speaking ahead of the game, Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend says that both sides have a challenge after a six-day turnaround from respective interpros last weekend; "Both sides had tough games last weekend, us against Leinster and Ulster against Munster. Both sides will be trying to recover from the six day turnaround and that is the challenge in these big games."
"This week involved reviewing the game last week and fine tuning things from last weekend so we are ready to go for Friday. It is great to have our captain Jarrad back and one or two other guys who were returning from small knocks. We are expecting a massive challenge from a real quality Ulster side."
Ulster: Peter Nelson; Angus Kernohan, Angus Curtis, Stuart McCloskey; Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (C), Tom O’Toole; Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson, Matthew Rea, Nick Timoney, Marcell Coetzee
Reps: Adam McBurney, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Dave Shanahan, Johnny McPhillips, James Hume.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux; Sean O’Brien, Jarrad Butler (C), Paul Boyle
Reps: Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, James Cannon, Colby Fainga’a, Caolin Blade, Kyle Godwin, Cian Kelleher
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