Ulster duo McCullough and Wilson set for Ireland debuts against Japan

ULSTER forwards Matt McCullough and Roger Wilson look set to make their international debuts when Ireland take on Japan in Osaka on Sunday (6am Irish time).

There could also be a first cap for scrum-half Kieran Campbell in a side likely to feature an experienced spine in the starting line-up.

They are three of nine uncapped players on the tour squad that is missing 12 regulars.

Coach Niall O’Donovan will name his team early tomorrow.

David Humphreys will captain the side from fly-half, with Peter Stringer looking set to be his half-back partner.

Kevin Maggs is set to link up with another new cap David Quinlan, now with Northampton, in midfield.

Tommy Bowe, Gavin Duffy and Anthony Horgan will vie for the two second row spots while front-row trio Reggie Corrigan, Simon Best and Frankie Sheahan look set to add the steel to the pack.

Japan are not the same power as they were before the 1995 World Cup. They have, however, played three games lately with big wins over Hong Kong (78-0), Chinese Taipei (62-9) and Korea (50-31).

Ireland have played Japan three times, the first back in the 1991 World Cup at Lansdowne Road when they were pushed to win 32-16.

During the following World Cup the Irish recorded a 50-28 victory in Bloemfontein and the last meeting was back in 2000 in Dublin when they skated home 78-9.