The odds of Ulster having Ireland and Lions flanker Stephen Ferris available before their Heineken Cup clash with Saracens in April have lengthened after the latest medical update following surgery on his ankle in December.

Neil Walsh and Conor Joyce will start in an Ulster shirt for the first time after head coach Mark Anscombe included them in a much changed starting XV for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Glasgow at Scotstoun (7.35pm).

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has called academy players Alan O’Connor, James Simpson and Conor Joyce into his provisional squad ahead of Friday’s first versus second RaboDirect PRO12 game against Glasgow at Scotstoun Stadium (7.35pm).

The loss of several key Ulster squad members to Six Nations duty has been softened for head coach Mark Anscombe with influential trio Johann Muller, Luke Marshall and Dan Tuohy returning to the squad ahead of Friday’s PRO12 meeting with the Ospreys at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

The injured trio of Paddy Jackson, Jared Payne and Craig Gilroy were named in Ulster’s provisional 26-man squad for the Heineken Cup trip to Castres on Saturday.

Despite nursing a groin strain full-back Jared Payne has been included in Ulster’s 26-man squad for the province’s final Heineken Cup pool match against Castres Olympique on Saturday (1.35pm Irish time).

In-form Ulster winger Craig Gilroy must be content with a place on the bench as head coach Mark Anscombe made wholesale changes for Friday’s crucial Heineken Cup meeting with Northampton Saints in Franklins Gardens (8pm).

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has added several senior players to his 27-man preliminary squad for their crucial Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash against Northampton Saints at Franklin's Gardens on Friday (8pm).

Benetton Treviso 15 Ulster 16

Ireland duo Andrew Trimble and Paul Marshall have been included in the Ulster line up to play Treviso at the Stadio Monigo on Friday (6.05pm).

Ulster Rugby management have included young academy back row Conor Joyce in the 24-man provisional squad ahead of Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Treviso (6.05pm Irish time).

Half-backs Michael Heaney and Niall O’Connor have been included in the starting line up for Ulster’s RaboDirect PRO12 showdown with Zebre at the Stadio XXV Aprile on Sunday (2pm Irish time).

With a number of players on International duty, Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has taken the opportunity to include some fresh faces in his provisional squad for Sunday's re-arranged RaboDirect PRO12 game against Zebre at the Stadio XXV Aprile (2pm).

Ricky Andrew will make his first start for Ulster after being named at full-back for the RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Edinburgh on Friday night at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris will get a 40-minute run-out for Ulster in tomorrow’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Edinburgh to prove his fitness ahead of the upcoming autumn internationals.

Ireland squad members Stephen Ferris, Craig Gilroy and Paul Marshall have been released for this Friday’s game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Roger Wilson and Declan Fitzpatrick have been named in the extended Ulster squad for Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Dragons at Rodney Parade (7.05pm), while there was further good news with Stephen Ferris returning after missing the province's opening two Heineken Cup games.

Ulster back row duo Stephen Ferris and Nick Williams are in contention to face Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken Cup this Friday after being named in Mark Anscombe's provisional 28-man squad (kick off 8pm).

Having returned from international duty with South Africa in the Rugby Championship, scrum-half Ruan Pienaar is included in the Ulster squad for the first time this season, as Mark Anscombe’s team prepare for their Heineken Cup Pool 4 match against Castres Olympique at Ravenhill on Friday (8:00pm).

Rory Best is in line to make his first appearance of the season after being named in Mark Anscombe’s preliminary squad for Friday’s derby meeting with Connacht at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Tommy Bowe will make his eagerly awaited return to Ulster colours when he lines out on the right wing against Cardiff in Friday evening’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Cardiff Arms Park (7.05pm).

Mark Anscombe has made seven changes to the starting team for the visit of Munster to Ravenhill tomorrow night (7.05pm).

Ulster can call on two more internationals for the visit of Munster to Ravenhill this Friday night after Dan Tuohy and Chris Henry were included in Mark Anscombe's 26 man squad.

Ireland duo Stephen Ferris and Andrew Trimble have been included in Mark Anscombe’s 28 man squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (6.30pm).

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has named a 26 man squad ahead of Friday's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Glasgow in Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Niall O'Connor will join Ulster after an agreement was made to release him early from his two-year Connacht contract.

The Ulster starting XV and replacements to face Leinster in the Heineken Cup Final at Twickenham tomorrow (5pm) has two changes from the side that beat Edinburgh in the semi-final.

Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin has named a squad of 31 players from which he will choose his starting XV and replacements for this Saturday's Heineken Cup Final against Leinster at Twickenham (kick-off 5pm).

Brian McLaughlin has made 10 changes to the Ulster XV for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Munster at Thomond Park (kick off 7.30pm).

Stephen Ferris and Rory Best will be rested for Ulster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster in Thomond Park on Saturday (7.30pm) and so are not included in the 32 man preliminary squad.

The Ulster team to face Edinburgh in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final (5.45pm) has been named with Paddy Jackson starting at outhalf.

Ulster remain hopeful that Chris Henry and Paul Marshall will be fit to play Edinburgh in Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final (5.45pm).

There is no place for rested Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best in Ulster’s starting XV for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Paul Marshall is the only fresh injury concern for Ulster as Brian McLaughlin today named a strong preliminary Ulster squad to face Leinster at Ravenhill in the RaboDirect PRO12 on Friday (5.15pm).

Connacht grabbed their first interprovincial win over Ulster since 2005, but Brian McLaughlin is not giving up hope just yet for a RaboDirect Pro12 top-four place.

Brian McLaughlin has made 12 changes to the starting XV for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Connacht tomorrow (5.15pm).

Ulster emerged unscathed from their historic 22-16 Heineken Cup win over Munster in Thomond Park, allowing head coach Brian McLauhglin to name a strong 37-man squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 fixture against Connacht at the Sportsground (5.15pm).

Brian McLaughlin has included Stephen Ferris in his provisional squad for Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter final against Munster at Thomond Park (1.45pm).

Brian McLaughlin has included Darren Cave and captain Johann Muller in his 32-man squad for Ulster’s visit to the Stadio Monigo on Saturday to take on Treviso in the RaboDirect PRO12 (3.15pm).

As Ireland U20s have no game this weekend Brian McLaughlin has decided to include outhalf Paddy Jackson in the 33-man panel ahead of Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Edinburgh this Friday night at Ravenhill (kick off 7.05pm).

Brian McLaughlin has named Paul Marshall and Pedrie Wannenburg in the starting line up for Ulster's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Ospreys at Ravenhill tomorrow (7.05pm).

Pedrie Wannenburg has returned to the Ulster squad ahead of their must-win RaboDirect PRO12 game against Ospreys at Ravenhill on Friday (7.05pm).

Ulster’s Nevin Spence hopes to avoid the blues when he runs-up against Gavin Henson in Cardiff’s traditional Arms Park home tonight.

Brian McLaughlin has made four personnel and three positional changes for Ulster’s important RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Cardiff on Friday (7.05pm).