Entry to the match is £5 at the gates, under 18s can enter for free and parking is limited on a first-come-first serve basis.
Experienced Ballymena back-rower, Matty Rea, captains the XV which features six Ulster Rugby Academy talents and three Development players in the starting line-up.
The front row sees Academy prop, Jack Boal, start at loosehead and Corrie Barrett start at tighthead.
Henry Walker starts as hooker.
Academy locks, James McKillop and Charlie Irvine pack down together in the second row.
In the back row, Rea starts on the blindside, joined by Lorcan McLoughlin at openside flanker and James McNabney starts at number eight.
The half back pairing sees scrum-half, Conor McKee, link up with fly-half, James Humphreys.
After being crowned the Guinness Rugby Writers Men’s 7s Player of the Year this week for his performances across 2023/24, Zac Ward, starts tomorrow on the left wing.
Academy talents, Wilhelm De Klerk and Sam Berman form the centre pairing in the midfield.
Ben Moxham starts on the right wing and Aaron Sexton completes the back three at full-back.
Hogg names a 6:4 split on the bench.
Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Cameron Doak, Joe Hopes, Reuben Crothers and Tom Brigg form the forward replacement options.
Michael McDonald, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer and Lukas Kenny provide the back options.
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles, IRFU 150 ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship, Friday 22 November, 3pm, Ballymacarn Park
(1-8) Jack Boal, Henry Walker, Corrie Barrett, James McKillop, Charlie Irvine, Matty Rea (C), Lorcan McLoughlin, James McNabney;
(15-9) Aaron Sexton, Ben Moxham, Sam Berman, Wilhelm De Klerk, Zac Ward, James Humphreys, Conor McKee.
Replacements: Zac Solomon, Jacob Boyd, Cameron Doak, Joe Hopes, Reuben Crothers, Tom Brigg, Michael McDonald, Jack Murphy, Rory Telfer, Lukas Kenny.
Our opposition
Ready for Round 2 of the @IrishRugby 150 Men's 'A' Interpros 👊 🦅#OneConnacht
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) November 21, 2024
🔗 https://t.co/yCzGa9Qy7S pic.twitter.com/JZvLVAqyLV
Preview
The match kicks off Ulster's opening 'A' interprovincial Championship, which marks the 150th anniversary of the IRFU.
The 'A' side offers players a vital window to get competitive game-time in an Ulster jersey and helps to develop younger talents against their peers from other provinces.
Last weekend saw the opening fixture of the Championship, as Leinster 'A' defeated Connacht Eagles away in a bonus-point victory by 7-28 in a thrilling fixture.
Ulster will be facing a hungry Connacht side eager to bounce back after the defeat.
The fixtures for the 'A' Championship can be viewed here, with more fixtures details still to be confirmed.
Q+A with James McNabney
Starting at number eight for the opener, Development player, James McNabney, says that the entire squad are relishing the opportunity to impress in the opening fixture.
McNabney, like other members of the senior squad and Academy, has been getting regular match minutes in the Energia All-Ireland League in recent weeks.
The back-row has impressed for City of Armagh RFC, as he pushes for senior mens selection in the busy block to come.
James, how much are you looking forward to kicking off the 'A' interpro series?
It’s the best opportunity to put your foot forward for the Leinster home game next week. We know they are a strong side, they have already played their first A game last weekend against Leinster.
It didn’t go their way so they will be looking to put a few wrong things right. We want to start off on the front foot and get the win. It's a mixture of academy and senior players, so a good opportunity for us to grow together and gel.
You have been playing in the AIL recently with City of Armagh RFC, how vital has that period been for you to get playing?
It’s been really good for me playing with City of Armagh RFC in the All-Ireland league. We got a great win away to Terenure College and have been building on that. I haven’t been picked in the senior side since South Africa and as a young player I have to develop and get better in a competitive environment where I can grow.
Armagh has been great for me to keep getting game-time, put in eighty minute performances and keep me going if I get another opportunity.
Have you felt that pressure to perform?
I go there with the expectation that I should be one of the better players on the pitch, but not getting ahead of myself and knowing they are all good players. We are trying to create the best environment for the Armagh players and myself.
How important is the AIL to players pushing for selection?
It keeps you competitive around the senior players, you know that senior coaches are looking at it and showing clips in team meetings. It shows what we are doing to put our hands up for selection. It keeps the environment competitive.
Finally, how much are you looking forward to Friday's 'A' opener?
Very much so, we are all lookign forward to getting out there and hopefully hit the ground running against a tough opposition.