GUINNESS PRO12: Jared Payne returns from injury for Ulster
Utility back Payne suffered a fractured kidney last November when playing for Ireland during the Guinness Test match against Australia.
He has been named on the bench for Sunday afternoon’s game.
Tommy Bowe will reach a special milestone in Parma. He has been released from the National camp and when he starts on the wing it will be his 150th Ulster appearance.
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Hide AdAnd Hughes Insurance Academy player David Busby is in line to make his first senior start having also been included on the bench.
Ulster director of rugby, Les Kiss, has made a total of nine changes to the starting line-up that secured a crucial bonus point win over Glasgow last week in Belfast.
Six of those changes come up front and will lead to an all-new front five. Rob Herring will captain the side from hooker and will make up the front row along with Andy Warwick and Wiehahn Herbst. Robbie Diack and Alan O’Connor are paired together as the starting locks for the first time.
Clive Ross is picked at blindside flanker and will be joined in the back row by Chris Henry and Marcell Coetzee, who has had a major impact in his first two outings for the Province.
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Hide AdIn the backline, Ruan Pienaar and Pete Nelson will continue their half-back partnership, while Stuart Olding has recovered from an elbow injury and will link up with Luke Marshall - also released from the National camnp - in midfield.
Charles Piutau has also recovered from injury to take his place on the left wing, opposite Bowe, while Jacob Stockdale - a double try scorer against Glasgow - will line out at fullback.
Callum Black, John Andrew, Ricky Lutton, Pete Browne and Sean Reidy, who all started in the pack last week, are named among the replacements. Scrumhalf Paul Marshall will join Payne and Busby as backline cover in the match day squad.
Ulster: J Stockdale, T Bowe, L Marshall, S Olding, C Piutau, P Nelson, R Pienaar; A Warwick, R Herring (captain), W Herbst, R Diack, A O’Connor, C Ross, C Henry, M Coetzee;
Replacements: J Andrew, C Black, R Lutton, P Browne, S Reidy, P Marshall, J Payne, D Busby.