Ofisa to start for Connacht

Ulster are without centre Paul Steinmetz and winger Tommy Bowe for their Magner's League clash with Connacht at The Sportsground on Friday.

The pair were injured in last week's 21-13 defeat to Munster and will be replaced  by Kevin Maggs and Andrew Maxwell.

In the pack Neil McMillan is replaced by Stephen Ferris at wing forward.

Connacht too have made a change at flanker, with Ray Ofisa in line to make his first competitive start ahead of Matt Lacey.

Winger Keith Matthew's replaces wing Conor McPhillips who is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Michael Bradley's side are also coming off the back of a defeat after they were hit with two late tries by Leinster last week.

Kick-off at The Sportsground is at 6.30pm.

ULSTER: 15 Bryn Cunningham 14 Andrew Maxwell 13 Kevin Maggs 12 Paddy Wallace 11 Andrew Trimble 10 David Humphreys 9 Isaac Boss 1 Justin Fitxpatrick 2 Rory Best 3 Bryan Young 4 Justin Harrison 5 Matt McCullough 6 Neil Best 7 Stephen Ferris 8 Roger Wilson

Replacements: 16  Paul Shields 17 Declan Fitzpatrick 18 Tim Barker 19 Kieron Dawson 20 Neil McMillan 21 Kieran Campbell 22 Scott Young

CONNACHT: 15. Daniel Riordan 14. Matt Mostyn 13. Darren Yapp 12. Gavin Williams 11. Keith Matthews 10. Mark McHugh 9. Chris Keane 1. Brett Wilkinson 2. John Fogarty 3. Ray Hogan 4. David Gannon 5. Andrew Farley 6. John Muldoon 7. Ray Ofisa 8. Colm Rigney

Replacements: 16. Adrian Flavin 17. Brett Sturgess 18. Michael Swift 19. Matt Lacey 20. Tom Tierney 21. Paul Warwick 22. Ted Robinson