Ulster’s new director of rugby Less Kiss has named Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar on the bench for tomorrow’s Guinness PRO12 clash away to Newport Gwent Dragons.

Ulster 21 Leinster 24: A little half-time word in the ears of his charges gave new Leinster head coach Leo Cullen a perfect start to his tenure with what was in the end a comfortable warm-up victory over Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium last night.

When Ulster coach Neil Doak named 33 players in his matchday panel for tonight’s friendly with Leinster (7.30pm), he said he was throwing down a challenge in his squad.

Glasgow 32 Ulster 10

A Pro 12 title and a top six qualification are on the line in today’s meeting of Ulster and Connacht in the Galway Sportsground (2.40pm).

Munster ‘A’ 30 Ulster Ravens 24:

Gwent Dragons v Ulster

Ian Humphreys will again be dictating matters for Ulster when they travel to face in-form Edinburgh at Murrayfield this evening.

Guinness Pro12: Ulster winger Andrew Trimble faces a battle to be fit for the World Cup after undergoing surgery yesterday.

Craig Gilroy will become the youngest player to win 100 caps for Ulster when he lines out against Benetton Treviso at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night, kick off 7.35pm.

Treviso 20 Ulster 24: This was one of the most astonishing games in the league for a long time.

Ireland’s Jared Payne returns to a strong Ulster’s match-day squad for tomorrow’s difficult Pro12 trip to Treviso.

Although matches against Ulster in recent seasons evoke positive memories for Leinster, defeat this weekend could deepen the sense of crisis ahead of a significant month that will also decide the province’s fate in the Champions Cup.

Ulster have made four personnel changes and Leinster five for the PRO12 meeting between the two sides in the RDS tomorrow afternoon.

If there is one person Ulster have missed more than any other during an injury-plagued 2014, it has been their cultured scrum-half Ruan Pienaar.

Neil Doak has made two changes to the side that were narrowly defeated by Scarlets in the Champions Cup last weekend.

Corofin (Galway) 0-09 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-02

Luke Marshall returns to the Ulster starting 15 for the first time since his knee injury in October as one of the three changes to the side for their Champions Cup match against Scarlets on Sunday.

Ireland duo Tommy Bowe and Paddy Jackson return for Ulster’s trip to Blues at the Arms Park tonight.

Ireland internationals Tommy Bowe and Paddy Jackson both make their first starts of the season for Ulster on Friday in the away match against Cardiff Blues.

GUINNESS PRO12:

Ireland’s most-capped hooker, Rory Best, will be back in familiar territory when he captains Ulster against Italian side Zebre this evening at a packed Kingspan Stadium.

Rory Best returns to the Ulster line-up as captain for this weekend’s PRO12 match against Zebre.

Leinster 7 Ulster 10

RABO DIRECT PRO12

Ireland winger, Andrew Trimble, has recovered from injury and is included in the Ulster team to face Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow night, kick off 19:05pm.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Rory Best and Tommy Bowe have been selected for Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 match against Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill tomorrow night, kick-off 7.05pm.

Ulster 21 Leinster 19

Canada coach David Clark today recalled Newport prop Rod Snow as one of seven changes to his side for what could prove a crunch Pool D showdown with Italy on Tuesday.

Veteran lock Al Charron will mark a “miracle” return from injury by captaining Canada in their opening World Cup clash against Wales.