Rugby:Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin will give Stephen Ferris every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of Sunday's season defining Heineken Cup quarter-final against Munster. The Ireland flanker is not expected to recover from an ankle injury in time but the Ulster management remain "hopeful" he could yet have some part to play.
Ferris was included in McLaughlin’s initial selection this afternoon, a 34-man extended panel, despite suffering significant muscle and ligament damage against Aironi last Friday. The blindside flanker, one of three Irish players in the running for the European player of the year, will be sorely missed should he fail to recover against a Munster side with a 100 per cent Heineken Cup record this season.
He was replaced by Willie Faloon last weekend, a natural openside flanker, with Chris Henry switching to the blindside. That is the expected make-up of the backrow for Limerick with Pedrie Wannenberg staying at number eight and Robbie Diack promoted to the bench.
As expected, Conor Murray, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha Ryan and David Wallace have all returned to the Munster squad for the match at Thomond Park having missed last Saturday’s home defeat to Leinster through injury. Keith Earls has also been included Tony McGahan’s squad after the Ireland centre recovered from the knock that saw him leave the field midway through the second half against Leinster.
Murray and O’Connell have not played any rugby since Ireland’s 17-17 draw in Paris at the start of March but are both expected to start on Sunday (kick-off 1.45pm).
Munster Squad:Johne Murphy, Ian Keatley, Tomas O'Leary, Felix Jones, Denis Hurley, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Simon Zebo, Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray, Danny Barnes, Duncan Williams, Scott Deasy, David Wallace, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Stephen Archer, Marcus Horan, Damien Varley, James Coughlan, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony, Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, BJ Botha, Mike Sherry, Wian Du Preez, Mick O'Driscoll, Billy Holland, John Ryan, Denis Fogarty.
Ulster Squad:Callum Black, Tom Court, Adam Macklin, Declan Fitzpatrick, John Afoa, Paddy McAllister, Rory Best, Nigel Brady, Andi Kyricaou, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Johann Muller (captain), Neil McComb, Stephen Ferris, Mike McComish, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack; Paul Marshall, Ruan Pienaar, Ian Porter, Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson, Luke Marshall, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Nevin Spence, Darren Cave, Stefan Terblanche, Conor Gaston, Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble, Adam D'Arcy