Ulster coach Mark McCall will replace Paul Steinmetz with Jonny Bell for Friday's Celtic League meeting with the Borders.

With Steinmetz ruled out for the rest of the season having suffered a broken cheekbone last weekend, McCall will again call upon the former Ireland international to plug the gap in the Ulster midfield.

Elsewehere, it is a case of as you were for McCall who knows a victory would see his side overtake Leinster, who are not in action until Sunday, at the top to table.

On the bench there are two changes with Paul Shields named as the replacement hooker as McCall rotates his squad, while Tyrone Howe, currently on the brink of winning his 100th provincial cap, fills the vacancy amongst the backs.

Meanwhile, Connacht coach Michael Bradley will assess the fitness of Ray Hogan, Chris Keane and John Muldoon before finalising his side for the clash with the Ospreys.

Bradley, who named a 22-man squad for the match at the Sportsground on Friday night, will consult the medical staff before naming his side tomorrow afternoon.

Ulster (v Borders): B Cunningham, T Bowe, A Trimble, J Bell, A Maxwell, D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (cpt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, P Wallace, T Howe.

Connacht squad (v Ospreys): Adrian Clarke, Andrew Farley, John Fogarty, David Gannon, Ray Hogan, Stephen Knoop, Matt Lacey, Joe Merrigan, Dan McFarland, David McGowan, John Muldoon, Colm Rigney, Michael Swift, John Hearty Chris Keane, Mark McHugh, Conor McPhillips, Matt Mostyn, Conor O'Loughlin, David Slemen, Tom Tierney, Paul Warwick, Gavin Williams, Darren Yapp,