Justin Harrison is in line to make his competitive debut for Ulster while Justin Fitzpatrick will make his prodigal return from a two-year stint with Castres after both were named in Mark McCall's 22-man squad for the opening of their Celtic League campaign, away to Cardiff on Friday.
Interestingly too, the latest off Ulster's conveyor belt of young talent, and one of the few players to illuminate Ireland's under-21 campaign last season, Andrew Trimble, has been fast-tracked into the squad and is in line to make his Celtic League debut.
Around them are some vastly experienced and familiar faces. James Topping and Jonny Bell return from long-term injuries, as does flanker Neil McMillan, while David Humphreys is expected to partner Kieran Campbell at halfback after overcoming the calf strain picked up in the friendly against Rotherham last Friday week.
In what is a fairly strong-looking selection, one player ruled out is Bryn Cunningham, with a shoulder strain picked up in that Rotherham game. Either Paddy Wallace or Tommy Bowe will revert to fullback.
Anthony Horgan, who missed the Celtic League opener against Border Reivers on Friday last, has been named in a 24-man Munster squad for Saturday's meeting at Musgrave Park of last season's top two Celtic League teams, the opposition being the Ospreys.
Horgan was nursing a slight Achilles strain but has recovered and took a full part in training yesterday in Cork, which presumably will mean abandoning the experiment of playing David Wallace on the wing, which coach Declan Kidney called a selfless sacrifice for the team.
Leinster could welcome back Reggie Corrigan, who missed last weekend's truly awful 22-20 defeat to the Ospreys (and he was lucky at that) with a hand injury for their first competitive home match of the season, against the Glasgow Warriors in Donnybrook on Saturday. Australian secondrow Adam Byrnes could also come into contention for a place in the 22 when the squad is announced today, having also missed that opening defeat.
Eric Miller limped off with an ankle strain against the Ospreys and should he fail to shake it off his place may go to Jamie Heaslip at number eight. The 19-year-old Robert Kearney, who marked his debut with his first senior try, looks set to continue on the wing.
Leinster are putting on a range of pre-match activities in Donnybrook on Saturday, including a barbecue from the Wesley End, as well as player appearances and signings from 4pm in the Leinster Rugby Store.
There will be face painting, free Leinster squad posters for every child and other giveaways.
Connacht have delayed naming their side for Saturday's second Celtic League game, away to Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
Coach Michael Bradley has a number of injury concerns including David Slemen, Ray Hogan, Christian Short and John Fogarty. Andrew Farley, Colm Rigney and Dan McFarland picked up minor knocks in Saturday's 13-9 victory over Cardiff, while James Downey and Mark McHugh remain on the long-term injury list.
Connacht host a double header at the Sportsground on Friday when their under-19s and under-21s play their Munster counterparts. Their under-21s have already ruffled a few feathers with last Friday's 21-15 defeat of Leinster at Donnybrook, while Munster beat Ulster.
As evidence of the continuing growth in Connacht, the starting team for that Leinster game comprised seven players from Galway, three from Mayo, three from Sligo and one from Roscommon. Similarly, the under-19 squad, which did better than would have been deemed possible a few years ago when losing 29-17 away to Leinster, was drawn from a dozen Connacht clubs.
ULSTER: (Forwards): Simon Best, Bryan Young, Justin Fitzpatrick, Paul Shields, Rory Best, Justin Harrison, Matt McCullough, Rowan Frost, Neil McMillan, Campbell Feather, Roger Wilson, Neil Best. (Backs): Paul Marshall, Kieran Campbell, David Humphreys, Paddy Wallace, Jonny Bell, Kevin Maggs, Andrew Trimble, Paul Steinmetz, James Topping, Tommy Bowe.
MUNSTER (squad): S Payne, J Kelly, R Henderson, T Halstead, B Murphy, A Horgan, J Manning, P Burke, M Prendergast, F Murphy, P Stringer, F Sheahan, J Flannery, F Pucciariello, M Horan, F Roche, M O'Driscoll, T Hogan, A Quinlan, J O'Sullivan, D Leamy, D Wallace, S Keogh, A Foley.
