Ulster head coach Dan McFarland says he expects to welcome back his Irish World Cup contingent for next Friday's BKT United Rugby Championship Interpro with Munster, but the province are counting the cost of another attritional week.
With 19 players either injured or unavailable ahead of Saturday's defeat to Connacht at the Sportsground, Ulster also lost Will Addison to a hamstring injury in the warm-up, while a bruising derby match saw James French, James Hume and debutant Reuben Crothers all depart with concussion.
McFarland has already ruled the trio out of this week's meeting with Munster at Kingspan Stadium, but is confident he will be able to welcome others back into the squad, notably Iain Henderson and Rob Herring.
"It's the end of the three weeks that the internationals have to take off, so those guys will be available for selection next week," the Ulster coach said following Saturday's 22-20 defeat.
"I don't know about Will [Addison], his hamstring tightened up in the warm-up so we pulled him out, so I don't know about Will. There are a few other guys who might come back.
"We have a little spate of injuries at the moment, so it'll be a bit of wait and see for next week."
Ulster looked on course for a surprise win early in the second half when their depleted side ran into a 20-3 lead, but ultimately couldn't hold on as Connacht crossed for three tries to maintain their 100% start.
And while the Ulster coach (below) was left frustrated at his squad couldn't stem the flow of Connacht's attack, he says there are positives they can draw on ahead of another big Interpro on Friday.
"I definitely think so, a lot of guys there getting first opportunities this season. I thought they really stood up well against nearly a full-strength Connacht team.
"It's difficult to pick individuals out but I though Jake [Flannery] has been doing well for us all pre-season, and it's a difficult place to come when you're standing opposite Jack Carty who is the 'Master of the West Wind', it was always going to be a tough ask for Jake, and I thought he stood up well.
"We had three debutants tonight, Joe Hopes came off the bench, an academy lock. Joe's going to be a really good player. Ben Carson came on for his first cap, and I felt really bad for poor old Reuben [Crothers], Reuben's first year as a professional coming, did a really good job in pre-season, earned his start tonight and unfortunately went off very early in the game, so I'm gutted for him. He'll have his day."
Out-half Flannery was impressive for the visitors, scoring all 13 of their first-half points with a try, a penalty and a conversion, before adding one more conversion in the second half.
The 24-year-old says a losing bonus-point was scant consolation given the lead they had built up.
"Like every game there are positives, but ultimately it's the result that counts," he said on Saturday night.
"We thought we were good enough to win tonight and wanted to win tonight and when you don't get that, it's gutting.
"There was some good stuff, but that's every game, ultimately you want to win, that's why you play and compete, and we didn't do that. We're disappointed."
It's been an impressive start to the campaign from the Tipperary native, who also scored a try in the season-opener against Zebre.
Flannery (below) played just four times in his debut season after joining last summer but says he's feeling confident after picking up two starts in his side's first three games.
"It's something I've always felt, I've always been pretty confident in what I could do. All along, all I can do is take any chance I get. I'm enjoying it. I love playing for this Ulster team and hopefully get to play a good bit more throughout the season."
And the former Munster out-half says he's looking forward to coming up against his old side, when the pair meet in Belfast on Friday.
"I remember last Christmas we played against them and I was on the bench and they came up and they beat us. So that's to the forefront of our minds.
"We really want to win next week, we need to win next week.
"I was on the phone to Josh Wycherley and Craig Casey yesterday and was asking if they were up would they meet for coffee, and the lads were like, 'Not a hope! I'll see you after the game!'
"I probably won't text them, it'll be radio silence for the week!"
