Sam Prendergast will start at out-half for Leinster, as Leo Cullen's side get the defence of their BKT United Rugby Championship title under way on Friday against the Stormers in Cape Town.
While the province can’t avail of their British and Irish Lions contingent yet, Prendergast is one of nine players in the matchday squad who featured for Ireland in their summer wins over Georgia and Portugal.
The out-half is joined in the half-backs by Luke McGrath, who captains the team for the season opener.
Robbie Henshaw also starts, having missed Ireland’s summer tour due to injury, playing at outside centre, with Ciarán Frawley in the 12 shirt.
Jimmy O’Brien is named at full-back, and could make the shirt his own in the next few months with Hugo Keenan injured, while Jordan Larmour and Tommy O’Brien are named on the wings.
Cullen has been able to lean on experience in the front row, where Rabah Slimani is named at tighthead, while Ireland internationals Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle pack down alongside him.
Diarmuid Mangan and Brian Deeny team up in the second row, while James Culhane will start the season at number 8, with Ryan Baird and Scott Penny on the flanks.
On the bench, there is a debut for academy tighthead prop Andrew Sparrow, while Harry Byrne is also included among the replacements having spent the second half of last season on loan at Bristol Bears.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny; Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, James Culhane
Replacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney
New signing Juarno Augustus (above) will make his debut for Ulster as the province begin their campaign against the Dragons in Belfast.
The South African, who joined from Northampton Saints in the summer, is named among the replacements, and is set to feature off the bench.
Head coach Richie Murphy has named a strong starting team, all of whom are Irish-qualified, with Iain Henderson captaining the team from the second row.
Jacob Stockdale, who suffered a shoulder injury on Ireland's summer tour starts on the left wing, and there are nine Ireland internationals in the first XV.
Rob Herring starts at hooker, packing down between props Callum Reid and Tom O’Toole.
Henderson, who sat out Ireland’s summer games, is partnered by Harry Sheridan at lock.
Cormac Izuchukwu is named at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney on the openside, while David McCann gets the start at number eight.
Nathan Doak starts as expected at scrum-half, the 23-year-old now the indisputed first choice following the departure of John Cooney. Jack Murphy partners him in the half-backs.
Stuart McCloskey is at inside centre, with James Hume alongside him. Hume will make his 100th appearance for the province.
Zac Ward, player of the match in their pre-season win against Edinburgh, is on the right wing with Stockdale on the left, and Mike Lowry completes the side at full-back.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Zac Ward, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Harry Sheridan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Juarno Augustus, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch the Women's Rugby World Cup final between England and Canada on Saturday from 3.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
