Ulster have been handed a timely fitness boost ahead of this weekend's vital BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Munster at Thomond Park.
Ireland stalwart Iain Henderson has returned to training and may be available for the trip to Limerick in what appears to be a must-win fixture for the Ravenhill side.
Henderson has been ruled out with a hamstring issue since February and according to the squad update issued on Tuesday afternoon, he, along with Sean Reffell, Robert Baloucoune, James Hume, and Eric O'Sullivan, has "returned to squad training, and their availability for the Munster game will be monitored throughout the week".
Michael Lowry (concussion and neck injury) and Stewart Moore (concussion), who were both injured in the recent defeat to Leinster, have returned to full fitness, while Tom O'Toole, who missed the game against the Hollywoodbets Sharks due to a family bereavement, has resumed full squad training and is also available for selection.
Jake Flannery (knee), John Cooney (ankle), Ben Carson (back), Ethan McIlroy (knee), and Ben Moxham (knee) remain injured and unavailable for selection.
Ulster have lost their last two league matches and have not lost three in a row since April 2022.
They have won just twice on their travels in the URC this season, beating Connacht in Galway in Round 9 and Dragons in Newport in Round 13, while their last victory at Thomond Park was in May 2014.
Watch Munster v Ulster in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
