Henry focused as Ulster ready for Blues battle

DOWNHEARTED Ireland duo Rory Best and Stephen Ferris along with ebullient Scottish winger Simon Danielli look set to start for Ulster when they visit the Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium for Friday night’s Magners League tie.

Internationals Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble and Tom Court are favourites to make the starting line-up as the province strive to keep alive their slim hopes of a play-off spot.

One new face in Ulster’s 30-man squad is Academy scrum-half Michael Heaney, who was part of the recent Ireland U20 Championship winning squad. Heaney gets his call-up due the leg break sustained by Cillian Willis playing for the Ravens against Connacht last Thursday.

Leinster-bound Isaac Boss should again start at pivot with Ed O’Donoghue, who is also heading to the RDS at the end of the season, set to be at lock, alongside Dan Tuohy.

Chris Henry, who leads the side despite the return of Best and Wallace, insists they can still make the last four.

Henry said: “Every game will be like a cup final.

“Even though it is an outside chance, there is something there and we will give it our best shot. starting with Cardiff on Friday.”

Ulster (Backs): J Smith, P Marshall, S Danielli, D Cave, I Whitten, T Nagusa, I Humphreys, N O’Connor, I Boss, P Wallace, A Trimble, M Heaney, J Shiells, M McCrea.

(Forwards): D Fitzpatrick, B Young, BJ Botha, N Brady, A Kyriacou, E O’Donoghue, D Tuohy, R Caldwell, C Henry, T Court, S Ferris, R Diack, TJ Anderson, N McComb, D Pollock, R Best.