Ruan Pienaar and Charles Piutau set for Ulster return

A deflated Ulster side hope to have their two key men fit and ready for Saturday night’s must-win Champions Cup clash against a chastened Exeter Chiefs side at the Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster’s director of rugby Les Kiss is confident both Ruan Pienaar (knee) and All Black Charles Piutau (concussion) will be available for the must-win clash while Lions and Ireland winger Tommy Bowe is back in the mix. Additionally, tight-head props Weihahn Herbst and Ricky Lutton, along with lock Dan Tuohy, are nearing full fitness again.

“The key for Ruan (who went off injured last week against Bordeaux) is that the scan showed only very minor damage to the various capsules around the knee and there was nothing structurally or of major concern. That is obviously a plus, although it was a jar to the knee which was worrying. He ran yesterday and trained part of the session and we will give him to the last minute to prove his fitness.