Ireland duo Tommy Bowe and Paddy Jackson will play their first match of the season when Ulster take on the Cardiff Blues at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on Friday (kick-off 7.35pm).
Tommy Bowe and Paddy Jackson are two of five changes to the side that beat Zebre 33-13 at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.
Louis Ludik, who started last week’s game on the bench, is selected at full-back and is joined in the back-three by two of the ten Ireland internationals in the team – Andrew Trimble, who starts on the right wing, and Bowe who returns on left.
Stuart Olding comes back in at inside centre, while Darren Cave has recovered from the rib injury that he sustained against Zebre to take his place at outside centre.
Returning out-half Jackson will play his 65th game for Ulster and is partnered half-back by Paul Marshall.
Up front there is an unchanged front row with Andrew Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst starting either side of hooker and captain Rory Best.
Franco van der Merwe returns to the second row and starts alongside Dan Tuohy. The back row all started against Zebre, with Robbie Diack selected at blindside flanker, Chris Henry named at openside and Nick Williams picked at number 8.
There are a further three Ireland internationals on the bench – Rob Herring, Craig Gilroy and Roger Wilson. Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Neil McComb, Michael Heaney and Ian Humphreys complete the matchday squad.
ULSTER (v Cardiff Blues): Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Tommy Bowe; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst, Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Bronson Ross, Neil McComb, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Ian Humphreys, Craig Gilroy.
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