Darren Cave, who will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season, will captain Ulster from outside centre for the game with Leinster on Saturday in the Pro14 in Kingspan Stadium, while it could be a special day for the Rea family.
Academy back row Marcus Rea will make his senior debut if he’s called upon from the bench, with brother Matty set to start.
David Busby, who suffered a long-term knee injury in pre-season, is in line to make his first appearance of the season.
The utility back has previously played four games and scored a try on his debut against Zebre in February 2017.
Busby will be joined in the back three by academy players Michael Lowry and Angus Kernohan, who have made a combined total of 30 appearances to date this season.
Cave will partner Peter Nelson in midfield, with David Shanahan and Johnny McPhillips paired at half-back.
Andy Warwick, John Andrew and Ross Kane are selected in the front row, with Ian Nagle and Alan O’Connor ready to offer support from the second row. Matty Rea, Clive Ross and Sean Reidy complete the forward pack.
Tommy O’Hagan and Jack Owens could make just their second appearances after being named among the replacements.
Ross Byrne will captain Leinster for the first time.
Byrne starts in a half-back partnership with Nick McCarthy.
Elsewhere in the back line, the experienced Dave Kearney and Fergus McFadden are selected on the wings with Jimmy O’Brien at full-back completing the back three.
Noel Reid and Joe Tomane are Leinster’s starting centre partnership.
Jack McGrath, Bryan Byrne and Michael Bent have been selected in the front row.
Oisín Dowling will make his first senior start alongside Josh Murphy in the second row.
Will Connors continues his return from an cruciate ligament injury to start in the back row along with Max Deegan and Caelan Doris, who both came off the bench in last Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final victory over Toulouse.
Ryan Baird, who made two appearances for Ireland Under-20s in their recent Six Nations Grand Slam-winning campaign, could make his senior debut from the bench.
He will become the 57th player used by Cullen this season should he be called upon.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; David Busby, Darren Cave (captain), Peter Nelson, Angus Kernohan; Johnny McPhillips, Dave Shanahan;
Andy Warwick, John Andrew, Ross Kane, Ian Nagle, Alan O’Connor, Matty Rea, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy;
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Tommy O’Hagan, Tom O’Toole, Nick Timoney, Marcus Rea, Jonny Stewart, Jack Owens, Rob Lyttle.
Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien, Fergus McFadden, Joe Tomane, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney, Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy;
Jack McGrath, Bryan Byrne, Michael Bent, Josh Murphy, Oisin Dowling, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Peter Dooley, Vakh Abdaladze, Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Paddy Patterson, Ciarán Frawley, Barry Daly
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