Ulster v Dragons: Teams

Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has handed a first-team chance to promising wing Conor Gaston for the Magners League clash with the Dragons.

The 20-year-old replaces Andrew Trimble, who is on international duty with Ireland, for the match at Ravenhill on Friday.

Gaston has been in fine form for Dungannon and Ulster Ravens in recent months and takes his place in a youthful backs division that contains Patrick Jackson, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Nevin Spence.

Marshall returns at inside centre as Paddy Wallace is also with Ireland, while Jackson's inclusion at stand-off means Ruan Pieenar switches back to scrum-half.

Andi Kyriacou and Declan Fitzpatrick come into the front row for Nigel Brady and Tom Court, while the other change in the pack sees Robbie Diack replace Pedrie Wannenburg at No. 8.

Returns

The match-day squad is bolstered by the return of long-term injury absentee Dan Tuohy and Darren Cave, who are named among the replacements.

Dragons boss Darren Edwards has made two changes to the side that were defeated by Gloucester in the LV=Cup semi-final last Sunday.

Joe Bearman is given the starting spot at No. 8, while Toby Faletau will come into the game from the bench.

"We wanted to look after Toby this weekend," Edwards said.

"He only came back two weeks ago and has played 80 minutes against Munster and then another 80 against Gloucester, both of which were very full-on physical games.

"In addition he's been in training with Wales this week so the intensity would have been high."

The other change sees centre Adam Hughes come in for Tom Riley, who drops to the bench, while scrum-half James Leadbeater takes the place of Jon Evans on the bench.

Ulster: 15 A D'Arcy, 14 C Gaston, 13 N Spence, 12 L Marshall, 11 C Gilroy, 10 P Jackson, 9 R Pienaar, 8 R Diack, 7 W Faloon, 6 C Henry, 5 T Barker, 4 J Muller (capt), 3 D Fitzpatrick, 2 A Kyriacou, 1 P McAllister.
Replacements: 16 N Brady, 17 B Young, 18 J Cronin, 19 D Tuohy, 20 P Wannenburg, 21 P Marshall, 22 D Cave, 23 T Seymour.

Dragons: 15 M Thomas, 14 W Harries, 13 A Hughes, 12 P Leach, 11 A Brew, 10 J Tovey, 9 W Evans, 8 J Bearman, 7 L Evans, 6 A Coombs, 5 A Jones, 5 L Charteris, 4 D Way, 3 L Burns, 2 P Price.

Replacements:16 S Jones, 17 P Palmer, 18 H Gustafson, 19 A Brown, 20 T Faletau, 21 T Riley, 22 J Leadbeater, 23 M Jones.