Ulster without Ferris and Best for visit of Leinster

There is no place for rested Ireland internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best in Ulster’s starting XV for Friday’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster at Ravenhill (7.05pm).

Head coach Brian McLaughlin has recalled a number of front line players to the team, with nine personnel changes and a further two positional switches to the team which lost 26-21 to Connacht last weekend, but there is no place for rested Ireland Internationals Stephen Ferris and Rory Best.

Willie Faloon, Nigel Brady, Lewis Stevenson, Tom Court, Stefan Terblanche and Paddy Jackson are the only survivors from the team which started in Galway.

Jackson has moved from inside centre to outhalf in place of Ian Humphreys, with Paddy Wallace occupying the vacated spot in midfield alongside regular partner Darren Cave.

Ruan Pienaar and Andrew Trimble also return to the starting backline.

Up front, Court is named in his more familiar loosehead prop position, after starting in the tighthead role at the Sportsground.

Declan Fitzpatrick will wear the number three jersey after making a welcome return from a neck injury - his first taste of action in almost five months.

Johann Muller has returned to captain the side from second row where he is partnered by Stevenson, while Pedrie Wannenburg and Chris Henry are recalled to the back row alongside Faloon.

Paddy McAllister, Neil McComb, Robbie Diack, Ian Humphreys and Adam D’Arcy all drop to the bench after starting last week.

Adam Macklin remains among the replacements as front row cover, while Ian Porter makes a return to the match day squad with fellow scrumhalf Paul Marshall ruled out with an elbow injury sustained against Connacht.

Ulster (v Leinster): S Terblanche; A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar;T Court, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (capt), L Stevenson, C Henry, W Faloon, P Wannenburg.

Replacements: A Kyricaou, P McAllister, A Macklin, N McComb, R Diack, I Porter, I Humphreys, A D’Arcy.

Unavailable due to injury: J Payne (Achilles), S Danielli (hamstring), Tim Barker (back), Chris Coachrane (foot), Paul Marshall (elbow).