Head Coach, Richie Murphy, has named his Ulster side to take on Edinburgh Rugby at Hive Stadium tomorrow night in a pre-season fixture. (KO: 7.45pm)
Murphy names a 27-player squad for tomorrow night's fixture, with Michael Lowry captaining the side.
In the front row, experienced senior prop Eric O’Sullivan starts at loosehead, joined by hooker James McCormick and Academy tighthead prop Tom McAllister.
A former Irish U20 player, McAllister made his senior debut last season at Hive Stadium in a 40-19 away victory for the province.
In the second row, Harry Sheridan and Joe Hopes are the starting locks.
The back row features two Academy forwards as James McKillop starts at blindside flanker and Tom Brigg lines up at openside flanker. David McCann brings versatility and experience at number eight.
In a new look half-back pairing, scrum-half Matthew Devine and fly-half Jamie Benson make their first appearances in an Ulster jersey following their summer moves from Connacht and Harlequins.
There are also two new faces in the backline, as Daniel Hawkshaw starts at inside centre and Chay Mullins starts on the right wing.
Hawkshaw is joined in the midfield by Ben Carson at outside centre.
Development wing, Aitzol Arenzana-King, starts on the left wing, while captain Lowry completes the starting side at full-back.
Murphy names 12 players among the replacements, with the aim of spreading minutes across the squad.
New signings Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell and Martin Maloney are named, while there are four Academy talents in Clark Logan, Jonny Scott, Flynn Longstaff and Jed Findlay.
There is a welcome return to a matchday squad for back-rower James McNabney, who edges closer to a return following a long-term ACL injury.
Henry Walker, Longstaff, Bello, Snyman, Donnell, Maloney and McNabney are the forward replacements, while Logan, Jake Flannery, Scott, Findlay and Jack Murphy provide the backline reinforcements.
Edinburgh Rugby v Ulster Rugby, Friday 4th September, 7.45pm, Hive Stadium, Live on Premier Sports 2
1. Eric O’Sullivan, 2. James McCormick, 3. Tom McAllister, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Joe Hopes, 6. James McKillop, 7. Tom Brigg, 8. David McCann, 9. Matthew Devine, 10. Jamie Benson, 11. Aitzol Arenzana-King, 12. Daniel Hawkshaw, 13. Ben Carson, 14. Chay Mullins, 15. Michael Lowry (C)
Replacements:
Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, Martin Moloney, James McNabney, Clark Logan, Jake Flannery, Jonny Scott, Jed Findlay, Jack Murphy.