Pollock in Ulster squad

Ulster coach Mark McCall has included Ireland under-20 Grand Slam captain David Pollock in a 23-man squad for Friday night's Magners Celtic League clash with Munster at Ravenhill.

The Queen's University second-year medical student has been an inspirational figure for the national underage side which won all five Six Nations Championship matches.

Having claimed the Triple Crown with victory over Scotland in Falkirk the previous weekend, the Irish under-20s added the slam in Benevento last Friday night. Pollock has excelled at both openside and number eight, switching to the latter position in the absence of Leinster's Sean O'Brien because of injury.

Pollock made his Ulster competitive debut when coming off the bench in the defeat to the Ospreys in January and now, no longer required by the national selectors, has been fast-tracked back into the Ulster set-up.

His presence will offset, somewhat, the absence of Ireland blindside flanker Neil Best who suffered a freakish accident in twisting an ankle on Saturday evening in Rome.

Pollock celebrated his 20th birthday on Monday and is preferred ahead of Neil McMillan and Sam Harding for a game Ulster must win if their hopes of retaining their league title are to endure.

McCall enthused: "David was sensational for Ireland under-20s and he has come in great shape and with an extra spring in his step. All he needs now is opportunity."

The Ulster coach was also able to welcome back Rory Best, Simon Best, Isaac Boss, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace from international duty. There is a rider attached to a couple of those players who still have to prove their fitness.

Boss, who missed Ireland's final two games in the Six Nations with a shoulder injury sustained in Ulster's defeat to Llanelli Scarlets, faces a fitness test, as does prop Simon Best, who was forced to retire during Ireland's 51-24 victory over Italy at the Stadio Flaminio with a back spasm.

McCall already had to plan without Australian Mark Bartholomeusz (knee) and secondrow Matt McCullough (toe).

The Ravenhill match is all but a sell-out and Ulster will be aware they can put the pressure on league leaders Leinster who host Connacht the following day.

Ulster also confirmed Seamus Mallon will be returning to the province after a spell with English Premiership side Northampton Saints. The 26-year-old Derry-born centre returns on a two-year contract. He spent three seasons with the Irish province and played at underage and sevens level for Ireland.

Going in the opposite direction is hooker Paul Shields who will join Northampton during the summer. Shields, who recently broke through the century mark of appearances for Ulster, has signed a three-year deal with the English club. To compensate for the loss, McCall has welcomed back another prodigal son, 25-year-old Neil Hanna, after a two-season sabbatical at Rotherham where he made 39 appearances.

Ulster's game against Munster will be shown live on Setanta.

ULSTER SQUAD: K Campbell, I Boss, D Humphreys, P Wallace, A Trimble, P Steinmetz; P McKenzie, B Cunningham, T Bowe, A Maxwell, J Fitzpatrick, B Young, S Best, P Shields, D Fitzpatrick, R Best, J Harrison, T Barker, R Caldwell, K Dawson, R Wilson, S Ferris, D Pollock.