Ulster coach Matt Williams has made eight changes to the side that beat the Scarlets last time out, ahead of the Magner's League clash with Munster in Musgrave Park.
Having endured a Six Nations on the bench Paddy Wallace will finally get some meaningful game time when partnering Ireland teammate Andrew Trimble in the centre.
Fellow international Tommy Bowe also returns to take his place on the right wing, with Australian Mark Bartholomeusz named on the left.
Isaac Boss misses out on the scrumhalf slot to Paul Marshall, while in the pack captain and hooker Rory Best and prop Tom Court return to the frontrow.
Italian lock Carlo Del Fava has overcome injury to partner Ryan Caldwell, shunting Justin Harrison to the bench.
There are two changes to the backrow in the shape of Neil Best's return and the introduction of Ireland under-20 captain David Pollock. The pair will partner number eight Stephen Ferris.
Scotland's Rob Dewey is named on the bench after recovering from a knee injury that has hampered him for a number of weeks. His compatriot Simon Danielli was not named in the squad after he failed to recover from an injury sustained against Italy in the final Six Nations game.
"We have a good young side and we want to see how some of the younger players perform in a tough environment down in Munster, there is not a lot between any of the players but this is just an opportunity for them to come out and play," said Williams today.
"Training has been good this week, we had all the players back that we haven't had in months.
"Trimble hasn't been with the team for two months and Paddy, Tommy and Rory have only been with us for 48 hours before the last two games, Carlo is the same.
"So, this week it has been about fitting a lot of our players into training. We have an injury to Simon Danielli so there has been a lot to do this week"
Ulster are second from bottom, four points ahead of Connacht, but a win in Cork would be their fourth in five games in all competitions and would lift them above the Dragons whose meeting with the Ospreys has been postponed.
Williams, however, knows how difficult it will be to achieve against Declan Kidney's side.
"Munster will be a tough, hard and well organised outfit, which is what I would expect," the Australian said today.
Ulster: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, M Bartholomeusz; N O'Connor, P Marshall; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (Capt), T Court; R Caldwell, C Del Fava; N Best, D Pollock, S Ferris
Replacements: N Brady, B Young, J Harrison, M McCullough, I Boss, R Dewey, M McCrea
