Michael Lowry will captain Ulster from full-back, with Richie Murphy selecting a 27-strong squad for Friday's match against Edinburgh at Hive Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm - live on Premier Sports 2).
Matthew Devine, who joined from Connacht in the summer, and Irish-qualified out-half Jamie Benson, who made the move from Harlequins, will make their first Ulster appearances at half-back.
Two more players with experience of the Connacht set-up, Chay Mullins and Daniel Hawkshaw, will feature on the right wing and at inside centre, respectively.
Hawkshaw joins Ben Carson in midfieldd, and Lowry and development winger Aitzol Arenzana-King, a try scorer on his Ulster debut against Munster last April, complete the back-three.
Academy tighthead Tom McAllister returns to the scene of his senior bow for the province in March when they ran out convincing 40-19 winners over Edinburgh.
The 21-year-old will pack down with James McCormick and experienced loosehead in the front row, supported by Harry Sheridan and Joe Hopes as the starting locks.
Academy duo James McKillop and Tom Brigg will fill the flanker berths, while David McCann will wear the number 8 jersey for the first time since last January's win over Cardiff.
Recent arrivals Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell, and Martin Moloney are included as replacements, as are four Academy talents in Clark Logan, Jonny Scott, Flynn Longstaff, and Jed Findlay.
There is a welcome return to Ulster's matchday squad for young back rower James McNabney, who missed the entire 2025/26 campaign due to ACL and ankle injuries.
Henry Walker, Longstaff, Bello, Snyman, Donnell, Moloney, and McNabney are the forward options, and Logan, Jake Flannery, Scott, Findlay, and Jack Murphy are the reserve backs.
The pre-season game against the Scottish outfit is a dress rehearsal for the BKT United Rugby Championship opener between the teams at Affidea Stadium on Friday, September 25.
ULSTER (v Edinburgh): Michael Lowry (capt); Chay Mullins, Ben Carson, Daniel Hawkshaw, Aitzol Arenzana-King; Jamie Benson, Matthew Devine; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormack, Tom McAllister, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, James McKillop, Tom Brigg, David McCann.
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.
