Rugby – Squad news:After their hard fought win over defending champions Munster, coach Brian McLaughlin insists Ulster must win their home games if they are to remain competitive in the Magners League after naming an extended 28-man squad ahead of Friday's match against the Ospreys at Ravenhill.
McLaughlin is waiting on the late fitness news of Paddy Wallace and Willie Faloon ahead of Friday's game, while Neil McCombe, David Pollock, Bryan Young, Jonny Shiels, Clinton Schifcofske, Darren Cave have all been included in the extended squad.
Ulster have shown decent form of late and were especially determined against Munster during last weekend’s 15-10 win in the provincial derby. And though they have already defeated Ospreys at the start of the season, McLaughlin is taking nothing for granted.
"We have to make sure we are up for the game, we have to compete and we have to make sure we beat them at Ravenhill,” he said. “We have to go to town with them up front and we have to show that we are more than capable of dealing with them.
"Although we gained victory over Ospreys at the start of the season, we all know not to under estimate them. Ospreys are a dangerous side, who can and do compete at the highest level, we need to ensure we give them nothing to play with.
"At training this week we will work hard in certain areas of the pitch, the focus will be to put down our patterns of play, after that, on the day, it's just a matter of us holding onto the ball and making the best use of any chances we have. We must put them under pressure.
"It's vital for our Magners League campaign that we win our home games and build a solid platform from them," added McLaughlin.
Ulster are six points behind Ospreys in a tight and competitive Magners League table.
McLaughlin is due to name his match day 22 at noon on Thursday with kick-off on Friday at 7.05pm, though uncertainty whether the game will go ahead remain because of the current freezing conditions in Belfast.
Ulster squad (v Ospreys)
Forwards: Declan Fitzpatrick, Bryan Young, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Andy Kyriacou, Ed O'Donoghue, Dan Tuohy, Ryan Caldwell, Chris Henry, Tom Court, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, TJ Anderson, Neil McComb, David Pollock
Backs: Jamie Smith, Clinton Schifcofske, Simon Danielli, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Timoci Nagusa, Ian Humphreys, Niall O'Connor, Isaac Boss, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Cillian Willis, Jonny Shiells