Stephen Ferris may have been out of action since November 2012 but his place on the Ulster bench for tonight’s game against Scarlets at Ravenhill is an encouraging sign that the Ireland and Lions flanker is genuinely on the comeback from his long-term injury.

Ulster coach Mark Anscombe, who had Ferris for only a couple months when he first arrived in Ireland, is certain to give the 28-year-old game time against the Welsh side.

It marks the beginning of a phased return to play over the coming weeks and if all goes well with recuperation for such a problematic injury that it forced Ulster to put Ferris on a short-term contract, he could be looking at Heineken Cup participation. The province face English Premiership side Saracens in a home quarter-final match on April 5th.

It's a cautious return after a hellish, rugby-free two seasons for Ferris, although, he has been training hard. Further down the road, Ireland have two Test matches in Argentina in the summer and three matches in November including Tests against South Africa and Australia.

Trip back
Ferris isn't the only player on the comeback trail as number 8 Nick Williams and tighthead prop John Afoa are also making a return for third -placed Ulster. Neither of the New Zealanders featured in the last two games. Afoa returned home for family reasons and Williams was suspended after his trip back to New Zealand forced Ulster to publicly censure him with a one-match ban.

Paddy Jackson, possibly the most unfortunate player in the Irish squad, has been released back to the province for the match. He lines out at outhalf with Springbok Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf.