Ireland players straight back to action

Rugby Celtic League: Repatriated to their respective provinces after their World Cup trials and tribulations, the Ireland squad members are available for selection in the weekend's Celtic League fare.

Table toppers Ulster have recalled David Humphreys to the outhalf role and offered starting roles to Neil Doak and Simon Best, all of whom were in Australia.

Gary Longwell has to content himself with a place on the bench as Matt Muschin and Rowan Frost have been named in the second row. Frost gets his opportunity because of an injury to Matt McCullough, whose ankle problem could see him miss next month's first two Heineken European Cup matches.

Definitely out of contention are flanker Neil McMillan and prop Ronnie McCormack, who are not expected to successfully rehabilitate injuries until the end of December. Warren Brosnihan has recovered from shoulder surgery and will line out with Dungannon in their AIB League Division One game against Belfast Harlequins this Saturday.

The previous night Ulster bid to maintain their recent impressive run of victories when they host the hapless Borders at Ravenhill. New Zealand NPC winner Paul Steinmetz is named in the centre while coach Alan Solomons has opted for Humphreys and Doak in the half-back roles.

Solomons conceded that it was especially harsh on Kieron Campbell - he won the Irish Player of the Month in the Celtic League series in October - and Adam Larkin who had deputised so capably in the absence of the Irish squad players.

If Campbell plays less than 30 minutes for Ulster on Friday he will line out for Dungannon the following day; Solomons will be in attendance.

Up front, Simon Best is at loosehead, Matt Sexton is preferred to Paul Shields, while Frost gets a rare start in the engine room. Roger Wilson has been handed the number eight jersey with Tony McWhirter on the bench.

There is a welcome return for former South African international prop Robbie Kempson. He is expected to play half a match following surgery to a trapped nerve in an elbow sustained in the Tri-Nations championship during the summer.

Borders will also be strengthened for the Ravenhill game with Scottish international Bruce Douglas, Nikki Walker and Gregor Townsend and Samoans, Semo Sittiti and Tanner Vili available for selection.

Leinster coach Gary Ella will be hoping the province can keep up the form that has won them four successive victories when they travel to the Gnoll (5.30) on Saturday to take on the Ospreys.

Girvan Dempsey and Brian O'Driscoll are named in the starting line-up as is Argentinean outhalf Felipe Contepomi.

Up front, captain Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O'Kelly, Eric Miller, Victor Costello and Keith Gleeson return to the pack. Gavin Hickie, Des Dillon and Aidan Kearney, all of whom have done extremely well this season, drop to the bench.

Shane Horgan will have a scan on his wrist today, and was not included in Saturday's game as a precaution. Leinster are still hampered by an extensive injury list. Niall Treston (broken leg) will not play again this season, nor Kieran Lewis (torn cruciate ligament) and James Norton (broken hip).

Leo Cullen (shoulder) is out until April, a date mentioned as the earliest possible comeback for Denis Hickie. John Lyne (broken ankle) had the cast removed this week but like Aidan McCullen (broken arm) won't play again before Christmas.

Better news is that Brendan Burke and Emmet Byrne could be available for Saturday week's opening European Cup match against Biarritz at Lansdowne.

The Ospreys, who host Leinster, welcome back Adam Jones (prop), Gareth Llewellyn (second row), Paul James (prop), Jonathan Thomas (flanker), Shane Williams (wing) and Huw Bennett from World Cup duty.

Former Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche - he once scored four tries against Ireland - signed for the Ospreys last Friday, but his work permit has not been sorted out in time for this match.

Munster will not confirm their starting line-up until today, but with the exception of Christian Cullen, Rob Henderson, Dave Pusey, Alan Quinlan and Denis Leamy, all of whom are injured, will be buoyed by the return of their Ireland squad members at they host Cardiff at Musgrave Park on Friday night (7.35).

The Welsh side, who lost for the first time at home this season last time out, can recall Iestyn Harris, Rhys Williams, Martin Williams, Tom Shanklin and Heino Senekal for the trip to Cork.

Connacht have no game this weekend.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; S Best, M Sexton, R Moore; M Mustchin, R Frost; A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: P Shields, R Kempson, G Longwell, T McWhirter, K Campbell, A Larkin, S Stewart.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; J McWeeney, B O'Driscoll, D Quinlan, G D'Arcy; F Contepomi, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Coyle; B Gissing, M O'Kelly; E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: G Hickie, D Molloy, A Kearney, D Dillon, B O'Riordan, C Warner, M Leek, G Brown.

Weekend Fixtures

FRIDAY

Celtic League: Ulster v Borders, Ravenhill (7.30); Munster v Cardiff, Musgrave Park (7.35).

Schools Interprovincial: Connacht v Leinster A, Dubarry Park (2.30).

SATURDAY

Celtic League: Neath/Swansea Ospreys v Leinster, The Gnoll (5.30).

AIl-Ireland League Division One (2.30): Ballymena v Blackrock College, Eaton Park; Buccaneers v Dolphin, Dubarry Park; Clontarf v Carlow, Castle Avenue; Cork Constitution v Garryowen, Temple Hill; Dungannon v Belfast Harlequins, Stevenson Park; Lansdowne v UCD, Lansdowne Road (back pitch); Shannon v Galwegians, Thomond Park.

Division Two (2.30): Barnhall v Old Crescent, Parsonstown; Dublin University v Ballynahinch, College Park; DLSP v Midleton, Kilternan; Sunday's Well v Young Munster, Musgrave Park; terenure College v Malone, Lakelands; Thomond v Old Belvedere, Fitzgerald Park; UCC v Bective Rangers, Mardyke; Waterpark v UL Bohemian, Ballinakill.

Division Three (2.30): Ballina v Suttonians, Heffernan Park; Banbridge v Skerries, Rifle Park; City of Derry v Clonakilty, Judges Road; Connemara v Ards, Monastery Field; Corinthians v Old Wesley, Corinthians Park; Greystones v Highfield, Dr Hickey Park; Instonians v Wanderers, Shaws Bridge; Naas v QUB, Forenaughts.