Celtic League: Ulster resume their Celtic League campaign after a very quiet April in which they played just one match. Coach Mark McCall has made just one change from the team that beat Glasgow at Firhill last time out for Friday night's game against Cardiff at Ravenhill (9.0pm).
Paul Steinmetz returns to the centre after fracturing his jaw with Jonny Bell dropping to the replacements. Paddy Wallace is preferred to Adam Larkin on the bench.
Various forms of entertainment have been set out to occupy the Ulster supporters ahead of the late kick-off including showing Munster's game against the Ospreys on the big screen.
Munster coach Declan Kidney hasn't finalised his squad, a direct result of copious injury concerns that have beset the Heineken European Cup finalists ahead of their two-match sojourn to Wales. They follow up their clash with the Ospreys in the Liberty Stadium on Friday with a refixed match against the Llanelli Scarlets the following Tuesday.
Munster will base themselves in Wales, returning home after the Llanelli match. Shannon prop Frankie Roche is definitely out after tearing his calf on four minutes in the victory over the Border Reivers. John Kelly (bruised shoulder) won't travel while Rob Henderson (ankle), who also missed the last game, took a limited part in training this week but mightn't be ready for the Ospreys game.
Kidney is awaiting the medical prognosis on Jerry Flannery (hamstring), John Hayes (bruised knee), Ian Dowling (groin), David Wallace (eye) and Mike Mullins (leg), all of whom picked up knocks in the Borders match. There is an expectation that Marcus Horan (calf) will travel but not necessarily that he'll play at the weekend.
Leinster coach Michael Cheika expects to have Brian O'Driscoll, Reggie Corrigan and Cameron Jowitt available for selection ahead of Sunday's game against Glasgow at Firhill.
All three sustained injuries in the European Cup semi-final defeat to Munster and missed last weekend's victory over the Ospreys at Lansdowne Road.
Chris Keane (groin) and Ray Hogan (foot) are the main concerns for Connacht coach Michael Bradley as he prepares for Friday night's clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground.
Both are considered doubtful while second row Christian Short is definitely out, sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Darren Yapp has recovered from a hamstring strain and is available for selection.
In an attempt to boost the attendance, the Connacht Branch can offer the twin enticements of women being admitted to the first ever floodlit Celtic League match in Galway free and the attraction of a unique sporting double bill, at no extra cost, with greyhound racing beginning immediately after the rugby.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best; M McCullough, J Harrison; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, P Wallace, J Bell.
