Ulster v Glasgow: Teams
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin and Glasgow counterpart Sean Lineen are confident of making winning starts.
Last Updated: 01/09/11 1:14pm
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin believes his side can flourish during the World Cup period, starting against Glasgow in their RaboDirect PRO12 opener.
McLaughlin will be without nine players during the tournament, however he feels the rest of the squad are relishing the chance to shine.
McLaughlin said: "To have nine players away representing their country is outstanding for us and we're very pleased.
"From our point of view it's exciting and challenging. We're looking forward to the challenge; we're looking forward to seeing how are youth perform at this level. It's vital for them and it's vital for our future.
"For them it's a great opportunity, it's a great challenge for us and it's one that we really want to get our teeth into."
Academy duo Conor Carey and Peter Nelson and development player Adam Macklin are named among those looking to take their chances - with the trio named on the bench.
Disappointed
Three players will make their debuts for the Warriors, including former Ulster winger Tommy Seymour.
Inside centre Troy Nathan and tighthead prop Mike Cusack will join Seymour in making their first competitive appearances for the club.
And having lost narrowly to Ulster on two occasions last season, Warriors boss Sean Lineen is looking for his side to settle to the score this time around.
"We were hugely disappointed to come away empty-handed from both Ulster games last season, because on each occasion we felt we competed well and put ourselves in a position to win," Lineen told the club's official website.
"The fact that Ulster just pulled clear both times is a reminder of the quality they have in their squad, and also the fact that you've got to be right on top of your game for 80 minutes to bring home the right result.
"That's what we're looking for on Friday night: a passionate, calculated performance that gives us the opportunity to win."
The Warriors will be without 11 players who are on duty with the Scotland at the World Cup as well as the injured Johnnie Beattie (knee), Alex Dunbar (knee), Calum Forrester (knee), Dave McCall (hand), Peter Murchie (shoulder), Gordon Reid (back) and Fergus Thomson (shoulder).
Ulster: 15 A D'Arcy, 14 C Gilroy, 13 D Cave, 12 N Spence, 11 I Whitten, 10 I Humphreys, 9 P Marshall, 1 P McAllister, 2 A Kyriacou, 3 J Cronin, 4 L Stevenson, 5 D Tuohy, 6 P Wannenburg, 7 W Faloon, 8 C Henry (capt)
Replacements: 16 N Brady, 17 C Carey, 18 A Macklin, 19 N McComb, 20 R Diack, 21 I Porter, 22 P Jackson, 23 P Nelson.
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Rob Dewey, 12 Troy Nathan, 11 Colin Shaw, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Colin Gregor, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 James Eddie, 5 Rob Harley (capt), 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements:16 Finlay Gillies, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Nick Campbell, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Federico Aramburu
