Ulster plan without big guns

Irish internationals Bryan Young and Tommy Bowe will both lineout for Ulster against Ospreys on Saturday after being left out of Ireland's 24-man matchday squad for Cardiff on Sunday week.

Mark McCall was forced to make changes for the Celtic League clash, however, after Eddie O'Sullivan kept a hold of six Ulster players for the Six Nations opener.

McCall is without three of his most influential forwards in the shape of the Best trio. Neil, Rory and Simon stay in Dublin with Andrew Trimble, scrumhalf Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace.

On a lighter note McCall is able to welcome back flanker Stephen Ferrris who missed last week's defeat to Toulouse having undergone an operation on a hand injury in recent weeks. Matt McCullough will not be involved after sustaining a neck injury last weekend.

The uncapped duo of Stuart Philpott and David Pollock are included among the replacements alongside Bryn Cuningham, who has not played since St. Stephens's Day.

As expected, Gavin Henson will start at fullback for the Ospreys, at the request of Wales coach Gareth Jenkins. Henson is in line to start against Ireland at number 15 because of the reshuffle enforced by the injury to Shane Williams.

Players are thin on the ground for Ospreys at the moment with all the others involved in the Welsh Six Nations campaign being kept well out of harm's way.

The side also has eleven players on its injury list including Sonny Parker and Filo Tiatia who both had groin operations on Friday last and are expected to return in five weeks time.

Assistant Coach, Sean Holley said today that despite some big names missing there are some good duels to look out for.

"Even though their European form has not been what they would have liked Ulster are a particularly good side who will be buoyed by last season's success at the Liberty Stadium," said Colley. "They, like us will be missing some international players but there will be some interesting battles to look out for, namely (former Australian teammates) Brent Cockbain against Justin Harrison, Jonathan Thomas against Roger Wilson and Nikki Walker against Tommy Bowe."

"We will be looking to perform as well as we can in our next two league matches. Both are at home and success should enable us to get back towards the top of the table where we are confident that we can challenge for the title."

ULSTER TEAM

15  Mark Bartholomeusz, 14  Tommy Bowe; 13  Paul Steinmetz; 12  Kevin Maggs; 11  Paul McKenzie; 10  Adam Larkin; 9  Kieran Campbell; 1  Justin Fitzpatrick; 2  Paul Shields; 3  Bryan Young; 4  Justin Harrison (Captain); 5  Tim Barker ; 6 Stephen Ferris; 7  Kieron Dawson; 8  Roger Wilson

Replacements:  16  Stuart Philpott; 17  Declan Fitzpatrick; 18  Ryan Caldwell 19  David Pollock ; 20  Paul Marshall; 21  Scott Young; 22  Bryn Cunningham

Ospreys Team

15 Gavin Henson; 14 Nikki Walker; 13 Tal Selley; 12 Andrew Bishop; 11 Richard Mustoe; 10 Shaun Connor; 9 Justin Marshall; 8 Jonathan Thomas; 7 Richard Pugh; 6 Andy Lloyd; 5 Mike Powell; 4 Brent Cockbain; 3 Andrew Millward; 2 Huw Bennett; 1 Paul James (Capt)

Replacements: 16 Barry Williams; 17 Cai Griffiths; 18 Chris Martenko; 19 Lee Beach; 20 Steve Tandy; 21 Jason Spice; 22 Stefan Terblanche