| Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Friday, 10 November Kick off: 19:35 GMT |
| Coverage: Live coverage on BBC Two NI, iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app. Match report, highlights and reaction on the BBC Sport website and app. |
Centre Stuart McCloskey and hooker Tom Stewart are two of 11 changes to Ulster’s starting line-up for Friday’s United Rugby Championship derby against Munster in Belfast.
Stewart returns as captain and McCloskey makes his first appearance of the season as both sides welcome back their Ireland World Cup players.
Club captain Iain Henderson and fellow forward Rob Herring are on the Ulster bench.
Jeremy Loughman starts for Munster.
Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne and Dave Kilcoyne are held back for now, meaning looshead prop Loughman is one of five changes from their win over the Dragons last week.
Second row, Fineen Wycherley makes his 100th appearance, John Hodnett replaces the ill Jack O’Donoghue in the back row while Jack Crowley comes in at out-half having played off the bench against the Dragons.
Ulster opened their URC season with a 40-36 victory away to Zebre, then beat Bulls 26-19 before that dramatic 22-20 loss in Galway last weekend.
Munster, meanwhile, travel to the Kingspan Stadium having won two and drawn one of their opening three URC encounters.
Stewart returns to the Ulster after being on the bench for their last-gasp defeat by Connacht last Saturday, replacing John Andrew in the front row.
McCloskey making his return at inside centre is one of 11 changes made by Ulster head coach Dan McFarland, with his centre partner Stewart Moore and full-back Ethan McIlroy the backs to retain their places.
Rob Baloucoune and Jacob Stockdale are in the wings, with Billy Burns at fly-half and Nathan Doak inside him at nine.
Eric O’Sullivan and Greg McGrath form the front row with 22-year-old Stewart while, in the second row, Cormac Izuchukwu and Kieran Treadwell start after both missing last weekend due to injury.
The versatile David McCann starts on the blindside, with Marcus Rea returning to the team at openside flanker and Nick Timoney retaining his place at eight, having started the last two matches.
Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Rob Baloucoune, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart (capt), Greg McGrath; Cormac Izuchukwu, Kieran Treadwell; Marcus Rea, David McCann, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson, Dave Ewers, John Cooney, Jake Flannery, Ben Moxham, Jude Postlethwaite.
Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Seán O’Brien; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron (capt), John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Alex Kendellen, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Tom Ahern, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Ben O’Connor.
