Cave set for Ulster return

DARREN CAVE makes a welcome return to Magners League action for Ulster when they travel to face Treviso tomorrow night.

A troublesome hamstring sidelined Cave for six weeks, but with coach Brian McLaughlin having to contend with a plethora of absentees, the former Ireland centre will start alongside Ian Whitten in midfield.

With Rory Best (fractured cheekbone) and Johann Muller (neck) absent, the captaincy is passed on to Chris Henry who will start at his favoured position of number eight in the absence of Robbie Diack (ankle) with Willie Faloon starting at openside.

Craig Gilroy, who scored two cracking tries last week, will again start on the right wing with Simon Danielli on the right with Adam D’Arcy again starting at full-back following his try-scoring effort against the Blues, while Ian Humphreys and Paul Marshall will retain their half-back positions.

Up front, McLaughlin hopes to have Nigel Brady back in one piece from Ireland in a front-row that is likely to see Bryan Young recalled at loose-head. Ulster have included a number of Academy players to their 27-man squad. Hooker Niall Annett, who captained the Ireland U20s to the Six Nations title last season, is included alongside Dungannon openside flanker Ali Birch, who could find himself in the match-day squad due to a shortage of back-rows.

ULSTER (v Treviso): Forwards): J Cronin, P McAllister, B Young, BJ Botha, R Caldwell, N Brady, N Annett, N McComb, A Birch, A Kyriacou, T Barker, D Tuohy, C Henry, capt, W Faloon, P Wannenburg.

(Backs): A D’Arcy, D McIlwaine, T Seymour, S Danielli, C Gilroy, L Marshall, J Smith, D Cave, I Whitten, N Spence, I Humphreys, N O’Connor, P Marshall, I Porter.