Stephen Ferris has been further frustrated in his bid to return to full fitness by suffering a recurrence of a back injury during training today that has ruled him out of tomorrow’s Magners League clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.
Ferris made a try-scoring return to the Ulster line-up against Edinburgh last weekend in what was his first competitive appearance since dropping out of the Lions Tour after hugely impressive performances against the Golden Lions and the Free State Cheetahs.
His quest to regain match fitness was expected to continue against Michael Bradley’s side but the Ulster medical team advised him to rest up ahead of the visit of Scarlets next week after he strained his back in the captain’s practice today.
His place on the blindside will be taken by Chris Henry, who in turn will be replaced by TJ Anderson on the bench.
The good news is Ulster are expecting him to be fit enough to return to training next week in preparation for tomorrow week's match with the Scarlets at Ravenhill.
Coach Brian McLaughlin had already shuffled his pack, initially making four changes from the side that lost narrowly to Edinburgh.
Tom Court was called upon to replace Bryan Young as loosehead prop, while in the secondrow fit-again Dan Tuohy was preferred to Neil McComb and Robbie Diack’s selection at number eight had shifted Henry to the bench.
In the backs, the only change is the return of Paddy Wallace, who will captain the side, replacing Ian Whitten in the centre, who moves to the bench.
Wallace is well aware of the task facing his side in Galway, where they won 14-12 last year after both Leinster and Munster were put to the sword.
"We know the task ahead of us in Galway. Connacht are a very competitive side, particularly at the start of the season, and they showed just how hard they can be to defeat in the Sportsground with that win over Cardiff Blues last weekend.
"They will have the bit in their teeth after that victory and they are motivated further by trying to get into the Heineken Cup for the first time.
"We stand in their way. Connacht look at us as their nearest targets in achieving that from all the provinces involved so they will really be gunning for us on Friday night.
"We are well aware of that, well aware of their motivation and we know we need to put in another big performance to keep the winning run we have had against them."
Connacht have made one change with Ian Keatley returning to the starting fifteen at outhalf in place of the injured Miah Nikora.
CONNACHT: Gavin Duffy; Brian Tuohy, Troy Nathan, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Andrew Browne, Bernie Upton, John Muldoon (capt), Ray Ofisa, Mike McComish. Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Robbie Morris, Mike McCarthy, Johnny O'Connor, Conor O'Loughlin, Liam Bibo, Aidan Wynne
ULSTER: Clinton Schifcofske; Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace (capt), Simon Danielli; Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Tom Court, Andy Kyriacou, BJ Botha, Dan Tuohy, Ed O'Donoghue, Chris Henry, Willie Faloon, Robbie Diack. Replacements: Nigel Brady, Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McComb, TJ Anderson, Paul Marshall, Ian Whitten, Andrew Trimble.
