Ulster have recalled skipper Iain Henderson following a brief injury lay-offs as one of five changes for their must-win Champions Cup tie against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Saturday (kick-off 8pm).
The Ireland lock hadn’t featured since their defeat to Bordeaux before Christmas but has recovered for the trip to England and will resume the captaincy and lead the team in their penultimate pool game.
Ulster must win to keep their hopes of reaching the knockouts alive, otherwise they will be left in a shootout with the Exeter Chiefs next Friday for a place in the Challenge Cup last-16 instead.
Accordingly, the head coach has also brought back David McCann, Ethan McIlroy, Aidan Morgan and Andrew Warwick for the clash after missing their victory over Connacht last time out, while there is also a return for former Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward.
The Paris Olympics stand-out only made his debut against Bordeaux last month but has quickly assumed his place in the line-up, replacing Academy ace Rory Telfer on the left wing in a back-three that sees McIlroy replace the injured Mike Lowry at full-back and Werner Kok continue on the right wing.
With Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey out injured, that means the inexperienced pairing of Jude Postlethwaite and Ben Carson continue in the midfield, while Morgan, who missed his first game of the campaign after sitting out the win in Galway, comes in ahead of Murphy’s son Jack at fly-half to partner Nathan Doak in the half-backs.
Up front, Warwick takes on the loosehead prop berth as Scott Wilson gets the start at tighthead due to Ireland star Tom O’Toole’s six-game ban for a dangerous clear-out against Munster, with John Andrew continuing at hooker.
Cormac Izuchukwu once again starts in the second row as he partners captain Henderson, with James McNabney switching to blindside flanker to accommodate the return of McCann at number eight and Nick Timoney rounding out the side at openside.
Tighthead prop Corrie Barrett and Academy winger Telfer are in line for their first European appearances off the bench, as is Jack Murphy having been named among the replacements.
James McCormick and Eric O’Sullivan are the other front row substitutes, with Kieran Treadwell, Harry Sheridan and John Cooney rounding off the bench at Welford Road.
Leicester Tigers: (15-9) F Steward; J Bassett, I Perese, S Kata, O Hassell-Collins; H Pollard, J van Poortvliet; (1-8) N Smith, J Montoya (captain), J Heyes; C Henderson, J Holloway; F Carnduff, T Reffell, O Cracknell.
Replacements: C Clare, J Whitcombe, D Cole, H Wells, E Ilione, B Youngs, J Shillcock, J Woodward.
Ulster: (15-9) E McIlroy; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; A Morgan, N Doak; (1-8) A Warwick, J Andrew, S Wilson; I Henderson (captain), C Izuchukwu; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.
Replacements: J McCormick, E O’Sullivan, C Barrett, K Treadwell, H Sheridan, J Cooney, J Murphy, R Telfer.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)