Ulster are delicately managing their players through a potentially difficult season, as Director of Rugby Les Kiss starts with Rob Herring at hooker and captain in place of Rory Best for this evening’s crucial Guinness Pro12 clash with an in-form Edinburgh side at the Kingspan Stadium.

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.

Ulster signalled its serious intent for tonight’s Guinness Pro12 semi-final at Glasgow Warriors by naming its strongest possible side.

Ulster head coach Neil Doak has decided that though a win in Glasgow this afternoon is both possible and rich with reward, he’ll put the Top Four play-offs at the top of his list of priorities.

Ireland’s director of rugby Eddie Wigglesworth hit back at criticism aimed at the IRFU for participating in the IRB Nations Cup.

Rotation is clearly the policy within the Irish squad participating in the IRB Nations Cup in Bucharest and, in advance of Wednesday’s clash with Uruguay.

It’s the last stand for Ulster and their South African captain Johann Muller as they attempt to reach the Rabo-Direct Pro12 play-offs when Leinster travel up the road to help officially open the new Ravenhill facilities.

Ulster are sweating on the fitness of their front-row ahead of Friday’s big Irish derby when the visit of Leinster hails the official opening of the rejuvenated Ravenhill stadium where there will be a capacity of 17,500 in attendance.

Ireland tighthead prop Declan Fitzpatrick has returned to Belfast following a heart scare which forced him off during Ulster’s defeat at Glasgow on Friday.

Emerging Ireland tight-head prop Ricky Lutton has signed a two-year professional contract with Ulster, while full-back Ricky Andrew has penned a one-year deal.

Tommy Bowe will start at outside-centre for Ulster against Connacht at Ravenhill tomorrow evening, (kick off 19:05).

RABODIRECT PRO12:

Ireland internationals, Craig Gilroy and Iain Henderson have recovered from injury and have been named in Mark Anscombe's starting XV for the game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill tomorrow evening.

Ireland winger Craig Gilroy will miss Ulster’s opening Heineken Cup tie against Leicester Tigers at Ravenhill tomorrow night due to an ankle injury.

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 coach, Mark Ancombe, has named Paddy Jackson at outhalf for their first RaboDirect PRO12 game of the season against Newport Gwent Dragons tomorrow night.

Cian Healy isn’t one for cracking under questioning.

All fifteen players who started Ulster’s impressive 18-34 over Connacht last weekend have been included in head coach Mark Anscombe’s extended 27-man squad for Friday night’s game against Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill (7.45pm).

Ulster captain Johann Muller has been named in Mark Anscombe’s extended 25-man squad to face Connacht at the Sportsground on Friday night (7.45pm).

RABODIRECT PRO12: Ulster 31 Dragons 5

Winger Tommy Bowe will start his first game for Ulster since injuring his knee in December tomorrow night when the Dragons visit Ravenhill in the third last round of the RaboDirect PRO12 (7.05pm).

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has decided to omit international duo Paddy Jackson and Andrew Trimble from his extended 25-man squad for Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Newport Gwent Dragons at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Having gotten back to winning ways against Leinster last weekend, Ulster prop John Afoa can sense the confidence in the squad as they prepare for Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens in Twickenham (6.30pm).

Last time these sides met in the RaboDirect Pro12 the Leinster scrum was left in a heap.

Head coach Mark Anscombe has brought the big guns back his side as Ulster prepare to take on Leinster at the RDS tomorrow night (6.15pm).

Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson have all recovered from injury in time to make it into head coach Mark Anscombe’s provisional 25-man squad for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with league leaders Leinster at the RDS (6.15pm).

Johann Muller, Nick Williams and Jared Payne have all recovered from injury and have been included in the Ulster squad for Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7:30pm).

Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe has restored Paddy Jackson to his starting XV, naming the 21-year-old at flyhalf for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Treviso at Ravenhill (7.05pm)

After a disappointing outing for Ireland in the Six Nations defeat to Scotland on Sunday, 21-year-old flyhalf Paddy Jackson could return to provincial duty this weekend having been included in the provisional Ulster squad for Friday’s meeting with Treviso at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

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).

Mark Anscombe has made eleven changes to the starting XV for Ulster's trip to Thomond Park to face Munster tomorrow (5.30pm).

Chris Henry has been named as captain for the second of Ulster’s back-to-back Heineken Cup Pool 4 clashes with Northampton at Ravenhill on Saturday (6.00pm).

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).

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has made nine changes for the top-of-the-table RaboDirect PRO12 clash against Scarlets in Wales on Sunday (4.00pm).

Ballynahinch and Dublin University are locked together on 26 points at the top of Division 1B after both making it six wins out of six this afternoon.

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