Schalk van der Merwe will make his long-awaited first appearance in an Ulster jersey when the province’s ‘A’ team visit Cornish Pirates at Mennaye Field on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).
The Ulster ‘A’ team opened their British & Irish Cup campaign with a 24-18 win over the Scarlets Premiership Select, and Schalk van der Merwe is one of six personnel changes to the team that started in Banbridge last Saturday.
The South African prop, who picked up a shoulder injury shortly after signing for Ulster this summer, will start in the front row alongside hooker Adam McBurney and captain Ross Kane.
Craig Gilroy also completes his return to fitness from a stress fracture in his lower back to make his first start of the season on the right wing, with David Busby and Jack Owens completing the back-three. The midfield partnership of Callum Patterson and Rory Butler is retained, while there is an all-new half-back pairing of Peter Nelson and Jonny Stewart.
The other changes in the pack see Matthew Dalton come into the second row beside fellow Abbey Insurance Ulster Academy Year 1 player Jack Regan, while Clive Ross will add senior experience to the back row alongside Academy youngsters Aaron Hall and Joe Dunleavy.
Zack McCall, Jonny Simpson, Greg Jones and Caleb Montgomery make up the forward options from the bench, while Aaron Cairns, who was man-of-the-match against the Scarlets PS side, Brett Herron and Robert Lyttle provide the back-line cover.
ULSTER ‘A’ (v Cornish Pirates): Jack Owens: Craig Gilroy, Callum Patterson, Rory Butler, David Busby; Peter Nelson, Jonny Stewart; Schalk van der Merwe, Adam McBurney, Ross Kane (capt), Jack Regan, Matthew Dalton, Clive Ross, Aaron Hall, Joe Dunleavy.
Replacements: Zack McCall, Jonny Simpson, Greg Jones, Caleb Montgomery, Aaron Cairns, Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle.
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