Cullen back in the frame

Leinster captain Leo Cullen returns to the squad for the province's Magners League clash with Ospreys at the RDS this Friday, …

Leinster captain Leo Cullen returns to the squad for the province's Magners League clash with Ospreys at the RDS this Friday, while Matt Williams has named a 24-man squad for Ulster's meeting with the Newport-Gwent Dragons.

The Ireland lock is looking to step up his recovery from a shoulder operation that sidelined him for the start of the campaign.

The game may yet come too soon for the man who assumed the captaincy from Brian O'Driscoll but his inclusion bodes well for Michael Cheika's defending champions ahead of the resumption of the Heineken European Cup.

After emerging unscathed from an hour of game time in the 52-6 demolition of Edinburgh last weekend, Stan Wright is also included.

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Jonathan Sexton will be looking to make an impression after he was prematurely withdrawn and replaced by Isa Nacewa last Friday.

Luke Fitzgerald, who scored a hat-trick against the Scots, looks to take up where he left off but there is plenty of competition with O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Nacewa and Rob Kearney among the backs selected.

In contrast to Leinster, Williams and Ulster go in search of a first win of the new campaign at Ravenhill on Friday.

Ulster have already been beaten twice by Welsh opposition this season and will be keen not to make it a clean sweep so early.

The Dragons will be equally intent on registering a win after three defeats on the trot, the most recent of which was the 50-6 mauling at the hands of Munster at Musgrave Park.

Leinster squad to face Ospreys

BACKS: Chris Whitaker, Chris Keane, Paul O'Donohoe, Jonathan Sexton, Felipe Contepomi, Brian O'Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa, Fergus McFadden, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Eoin O'Malley, Girvan Dempsey

FORWARDS: Cian Healy, Stephen Knoop, Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, Stan Wright, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O'Kelly, Leo Cullen, Devin Toner, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien, Kevin McLaughlin, Jamie Heaslip

Ulster squad to face Newport-Gwent Dragons

FORWARDS:Justin Fitzpatrick; Nigel Brady; Tom Court; Rory Best; Brendan Botha; Carlo Del Fava; Ed O'Donoghue; Ryan Caldwell; Chris Henry; Matt McCullough; Kieron Dawson; Robbie Diack; Thomas Anderson

BACKS:Niall O'Connor; Bryn Cunningham; Paddy Wallace; Timoci Nagusa; Rob Dewey; Darren Cave; Andrew Trimble; Clinton Schifcofske; Cillian Willis; Isaac Boss; Paul Steinmetz