Rugby:Paul Marshall has been omitted from the Ulster squad for Friday night's game against Leinster at Ravenhill because of an elbow he sustained during last weekend's defeat to Connacht.
An ultrasound scan revealed the scrumhalf had sustained some tendon damage to his right elbow but as of now it is not clear how long he will be on the sidelines. The player was optimistic that he would recover in time for the province’s Heineken Cup semi-final against Edinburgh at the end of the month. Ian Porter is likely to start on the bench with Ruan Pienaar wearing the number nine jersey.
Leinster have already ensured top seeding and a home semi-final in the RaboDirect Pro12. They have suffered just one reversal in any competition since September, a 22-23 loss to Ospreys last month. A Leinster victory would ensure a first clean sweep by an Irish province in a season – winning all six inter-provincial clashes.
Ulster’s defeat at Connacht ended a four game winning run in the league, but the Belfast based team remain just one point outside the top four going into the final two rounds of action. They have another trip to Munster on the horizon on the last weekend of the regular season.
Having lost just once in their last 20 home outings, against Treviso back in October, Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin will be hoping his side can continue that form to challenge for a semi final spot. Over 9,500 tickets have been sold for Friday’s clash.
Ulster squad:Callum Black, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, Paddy McAllister, Andi Kyriacou, Nigel Brady, Rory Best, Lewis Stevenson, Johann Muller (captain), Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Ali Birch, Mike McComish, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, Blane McIlroy, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Nevin Spence, Michael Allen, Stefan Terblanche, Craig Gilroy, Conor Gaston, Andrew Trimble, Adam D'Arcy
