Ulster v Ospreys: Teams

Adam D'Arcy will get a chance to prove he is worth a full-time deal after being named in the Ulster side to face the Ospreys on Friday.

The 23-year-old Australian has joined Ulster on trial - and he has been named at full-back for the Magners League opener against the defending champions at Ravenhill.

The former Manly RL star is joined by Tommy Seymour and David McIlwaine in the back three, while Paul Marshall is named at scrum-half.

Coach Brian McLaughlin has kept faith in the same pack that impressed in the final pre-season game against Leeds - although Irish tourist Tom Court and prop Paddy McAllister are named on the bench.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley is expecting a tough start to their title defence.

The Ospreys toppled Leinster in the inaugural play-offs to lift the Magners League crown - and Holley admits his side face a fight to retain the title.

"We want to defend our title, the success in May out in Leinster doesn't dull that ambition. But, we realise that it won't be easy," he said.

"We saw at the end of last season that there were seven teams still in the chase for the play-offs and that was good for the competition.

Recruited

"It's only going to get even more competitive this season, with the Italian sides coming in, who like some of the other teams have recruited very well.

"You look at the Blues, they are stronger than ever before and will want to win that title for a first time, they've never won a Magners League title before so there'll be expectations on them.

"Ulster, first up for us, they look as though they've really gone for it this year as well. They've recruited heavily from the southern hemisphere since last season and will definitely be a tough nut to crack.

"Ravenhill is never an easy place to go, particularly for the opening game, and I wouldn't imagine it being any different on Friday.

"We're are able to put a strong team out that we are confident can go out there and compete, despite the restrictions and complications that injury and international duty bring with them, and we're all really looking forward to just getting on with it now."

Ryan Jones, Richard Hibbard, Tom Isaacs, James Hook and Barry Davies are all missing for the clash, but the Ospreys still have named a strong side.

New signing Richard Fussell gets the first chance to show his potential after being named on the wing, while veteran hooker Mefin Davies offers plenty of experience to the pack.

Ulster: 15 A D'Arcy, 14 T Seymour, 13 D Cave, 12 I Whitten, 11 D McIlwaine, 10 N O'Connor, 9 P Marshall, 1 B Young, 2 R Best (capt), 3 D Fitzpatrick, 4 J Muller, 5 T Barker, 6 S Ferris, 7 W Faloon, 8 P Wannenburg.
Replacements: 16 N Brady, 17 T Court, 18 P McAllister, 19 R Caldwell, 20 R Diack, 21 I Porter, 22 P Wallace, 23 J Shiels.

Ospreys: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 1 Ryan Bevington, 2 Mefin Davies, 3 Craig Mitchell, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Ian Evans, 6 Jerry Collins (capt), 7 Marty Holah, 8 Jonathan Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 James Goode, 20 Ben Lewis, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Lee Byrne, 23 Shane Williams