Australia prop Angus Bell will make his first Ulster start in Friday’s United Rugby Championship game against Leinster at Aviva Stadium (19:45 GMT).
Short-term signing Bell, who came off the bench in the Challenge Cup fixtures against Racing 92 and Cardiff, starts at loose-head with Ireland internationals Tom O’Toole and Tom Stewart completing the front row.
Centre Stuart McCloskey returns from the groin injury he sustained on Ireland duty last month. He is joined in midfield by Jude Postlethwaite, who missed last weekend’s defeat by Cardiff because of concussion.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has recalled several players after rotating his squad for the Cardiff game, with Nick Timoney and Juarno Augustus returning to the back row.
Jacob Stockdale is restored at full-back, while Rob Baloucoune – who has scored five tries this season – returns to the right wing. The first-choice half-back pairing of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy are also recalled.
Ethan McIlroy is set for his first appearance since January from the bench after recovering from a knee injury.
Ireland forward James Ryan will earn his 100th Leinster cap in Friday’s interprovincial derby.
URC holders Leinster will be captained by Jack Conan, who came through graduated return to play protocols, with Caelan Doris not named in the squad.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has changed his front row after last weekend’s Investec Champions Cup win at Leicester, with Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani and Gus McCarthy named to start.
New Zealand international Rieko Ioane will play his first URC game after a couple of Champions Cup appearances, while Sam Prendergast is restored at fly-half after Harry Byrne was preferred for the Leicester game.
Leinster: Frawley; Kenny, Ioane, Tector, Lowe; Prendergast, McGrath; Boyle, G McCarthy, Slimani, Deeny, Ryan, Soroka, Penny, Conan (capt).
Replacements: Sheehan, P McCarthy, Furlong, J McCarthy, Deegan, Gunne, Byrne, Moloney.
Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O’Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney (capt), Augustus.
Replacements: Andrew, Crean, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, McIlroy.