Like loosehead prop Cian Healy in Leinster and outhalf Johnny Sexton at Racing Metro, Irish lock Iain Henderson will start for Ulster against Edinburgh at Murrayfield with a view to getting match time in his legs.
The hugely talented lock and flanker has shown in recent games that he is turning into the player his earlier talent suggested.
Both Ulster and Joe Schmidt should benefit from this outing as he requires more playing time after his return from a hip injury.
Two changes
Henderson, who signed a new three-year contract with Ulster this week, starts in the secondrow and is one of two changes to the side that beat
Treviso
43-3 in Belfast last week.
The other change is also a talented player with bulk in his favour, the towering 22-year-old Stuart McCloskey.
He scored a try on his return from injury last weekend and is named at inside-centre.
Ulster coach, Neil Doak has left the rest of the team unchanged for the trip to Scotland.
Ruan Pienaar starts at scrumhalf, while Ian Humphreys wins his 99th cap for Ulster at outhalf.
Paddy Jackson, who dislocated his elbow, remains on the long-term injury list and Darren Cave starts in midfield alongside McCloskey.
Louis Ludik continues at fullback alongside Michael Allen and Craig Gilroy in the back three.
One player Ulster will miss is Robbie Diack. The South African-born backrow misses the match having picked up a back injury in training.
Ulster are currently fourth on the Pro12 table, ahead of Leinster and Connacht. Munster sits second behind Glasgow Warriors. Edinburgh are in eighth position.
Connacht’s longest-serving player Michael Swift has announced that he will retire at the end of the current season. The 37-year-old lock has played a record 268 times for Connacht over 15 seasons also holds the Pro12 record with 183 appearances. Swift is currently sidelined with a broken leg.
EDINBURGH: J Cuthbert; D Fife, S Beard, P Burleigh, T Visser; T Heathcote, G Hart; R Sutherland, N Cochrane, WP Nel, A Bresler, B Toolis, R Grant, H Watson, M Coman. Replacements: S McInally, G Shiells, J Andress, O Atkins, H Blake, AN Other, J Te Rure, A Strauss. ULSTER: L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, I Henderson, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (capt), M McComish, N Williams. Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, C Ross, P Marshall, L Marshall, P Nelson. Referee: L Hodge (WRU). Verdict: Ulster.
