Fit-again wing Robert Baloucoune is named in the Ulster starting team for Saturday's URC game against the Bulls at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast.
Fit-again Robert Baloucoune will make his first appearance of the season for Ulster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Bulls (19:45 BST) at the Affidea Stadium, while summer signing Juarno Augustus has been handed his first start of the campaign.
Wing Baloucoune played only twice for the Irish province last term in an injury-blighted year and missed the season-opening 42-21 win over the Dragons two weeks ago with an ankle injury.
Augustus, a summer signing from Northampton, came off the bench in the win over the Welsh side in Belfast and was also named as a replacement for last week's scheduled encounter away to Edinburgh, which was postponed after falling victim to the effects of Storm Amy.
Jacob Stockdale is selected at full-back after overcoming a foot injury sustained in the game two weeks ago while prop Eric O'Sullivan is named on the bench after recovering from a knee problem.
Michael Lowry is not included in the matchday squad however as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain.
Zac Ward retains his place in the starting XV on the left wing after his try-scoring performance against the Dragons, with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume again paired in midfield.
Jack Murphy and Nathan Doak continue to form the half-back partnership.
Former Saracens forward Sam Crean starts for the first time since joining the province in the summer, packing down with Ireland internationals Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole in the front row.
Captain Iain Henderson is partnered by Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row, with David McCann, Nick Timoney and Augustus making up the back row.
Prop Callum Reid was named in the side to face Edinburgh last week but is ruled out of Saturday's match with a concussion.
The Bulls have started the season strongly, securing wins over Ospreys and defending champions Leinster, and have recalled a clutch of South Africa internationals to their squad following the conclusion of The Rugby Championship.
Last season's beaten URC finalists are without former Ulster forward Marcell Coetzee because of a concussion however.
The meeting with the Bulls is the first of three encounters against South African opposition for Richie Murphy's side as they travel to face the Sharks and Lions in the following weeks.
Ulster lost three of their four URC games against South Africa opposition last season, including a 47-21 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.
Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus
Replacements: Stewart, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Reffell, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.
Category: General Sports
