Big three to make Munster return

Ronan O'Gara, Keith Earls and Conor Murray will all be named in the Munster squad when it is announced later this week for the RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Ulster in Ravenhill on Friday (7.05).

Donncha O'Callaghan is also expected to be included having missed last weekend's win over Treviso as his wife gave birth to their second child.

Niall Ronan will also travel north though it's thought he's more likely to feature in the A game at Deramore Park (Belfast Harlequins) that also takes place on Friday. The flanker was scheduled to play for Shannon on Saturday but their game was called off.

Ulster already welcomed back international duo Stephen Ferris and Andrew Trimble but will be without the talismanic Ruan Pienaar who is on international duty with South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

Having suffered a 33-17 hammering in Ravenhill last season as well as losing the Heineken Cup quarter-final at Thomond Park to Ulster, Rob Penney’s side won’t want for motivation heading into the first inter-provincial clash of the season.