Pro12 preview: Ulster coach Neil Doak beginning to shape starting side

Ulster head coach Neil Doak is finally closing in on a starting XV capable of cleaning up the mess caused by last summer’s mass exodus.

Jared Payne makes the bench, following a two-month lay off following injury in his run at centre for Ireland in November, with Louis Ludik returning to fullback. That sees Peter Nelson, quite impressive against Leinster, also benched which means no room for Luke Marshall.

With an eye to the Six Nations, Tommy Bowe has recovered from a dead leg, Stuart Olding can continue his impressive form at inside centre and Dan Tuohy remains a contender to provide cover behind Devin Toner and Paul O’Connell in Rome next month.

Franco van der Merwe, still endeavouring to fill the boots of the retired Johann Muller, misses his first game of the season with a chest infection leaving the pack without four frontliners as Chris Henry, Iain Henderson and Nick Williams are also left at home.

It’s unclear when that trio will return. Not that it really matters away to Toulon or home to Leicester as the Pro12 is the priority not, and not Europe.

All told, with Ruan Pienaar returning to full health alongside Paddy Jackson, the expected victory here could put them into a playoff spot should Leinster lose in Cardiff. McCloskey Meanwhile, Stuart McCloskey has signed his first senior contract with Ulster. The two-year deal means the ex Bangor Grammar School pupil will be at Kingspan Stadium until at least the summer of 2017.

McCloskey, who made his debut against Newport Gwent Dragons last February, has made 12 appearances for Ulster so far and was man-of-the-match against Edinburgh earlier this season. BENETTON TREVISO: J Hayward; A Esposito, M Campagnaro, L Morisi, A Pratichetti; S Christie, E Gori; M Zanusso, D Giazzon, R Harden; T Vallejos, C van Zyl; M Barbini, A Zanni (capt), D Budd. Replacements: A Anae, J Novak, D Rae, M Fuser, F Minto, M Swanepoel, J Ambrosini, A Lucchese. ULSTER: L Ludik; T Bowe, D Cave, S Olding, C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar; C Black, R Best, W Herbst, A O'Connor, D Tuohy, R Diack, C Ross, R Wilson; Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, S Reidy, P Marshall, J Payne, P Nelson. Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales). Verdict: Ulster win.