Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has three Ireland internationals back in his 27-man squad ahead of Friday’s crucial Magner’s League clash with Llanelli Scarlets (7.05pm).
Both Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble are included among the backs after travelling to - and in the latter’s case, featuring in - Ireland’s win over England at Twickenham at the weekend.
Tom Court, who was left out of the squad for Munster’s Tony Buckley, is also available for the game.
A win at Parc Y Scarlets would allow Ulster pull away from seventh-placed Dragons and close the gap on Edinburgh ahead of their games on Saturday (Munster) and Sunday (Ospreys) respectively.
"We have to go to the Scarlets really positive about our own ability to win away from home,” said McLaughlin today. “There can be no doubt that we have been improving our away performances, it is something that we talked about at the beginning of the season, but we have to go to Llanelli and be accurate with everything we do.
“It is going to be very, very tough, they have an experienced squad and we'll have to be clinical with the chances we create and come away with the right result."
Easier said than done, however, with Scarlets determined to catch the Cardiff Blues in eighth, but Ulster have been boosted today by Court and wing Simon Danielli committing to the cause until June 2012.
"I am delighted and very, very happy,” said Court today. “I have been honest from the start, I have been here for over 4 years, and I made it clear that I wanted to stay with Ulster.
“I am really pleased that everything is now sorted out, I feel very much at home here, I love the people, I love the rugby and I know this Ulster squad is developing in the right direction.
"There is some great young talent coming through and I am very positive about the team achieving success in the future."
Danielli, who suffered defeat with Scotland against Italy on Saturday and is also in the squad to travel to Wales, joined Ulster from the Borders at the start of the 2007/08 season and us currently the club's top try-scorer.
"I am really pleased to be staying at Ulster, I consider it to be my home now and I am very excited about the next couple of years. I think we have a fantastic group of players and coaches, and I want to contribute to this team winning some silverware," he told ulsterrugby.com.
Nevin Spence is also included in the squad, following his return from Ireland Under 20's duty.
The team will be announced at 12 noon on Thursday.
Ulster Squad (v Llanelli Scarlets)
Forwards: Tom Court, Bryan Young, B.J Botha, Declan Fitzpatrick, Nigel Brady, Andy Kyriacou, Ryan Caldwell, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Thomas Anderson, David Pollock, Willie Faloon, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.
Backs: Cillian Willis, Isaac Boss, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Jamie Smith, Nevin Spence.