Ulster head coach Dan McFarland has announced his 23-man squad for tomorrow’s PRO14 clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium at 17 15.

Star back-liner Louis Ludik makes a welcome return from injury to slot straight back into the starting line-up along with the likes of Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Billy Burns coming back in after being released from the Ireland squad by head coach Andy Farrell. 

In the front-row Eric O’Sullivan starts alongside Adam McBurney and Marty Moore, with Alan O’Connor captaining the side in Iain Henderson’s absence from the second-row beside Kieran Treadwell. 

In the back-row Matthew Rea is at blindside-flanker, with Sean Reidy at openside and Marcell Coetzee completes the forward pack from No 8. 

David Shanahan comes in at scrum-half, with Burns linking-up with him in the half-backs, and they have McCloskey and Luke Marshall outside them in the midfield duo. 

Ludik opens the game on the left-wing, with Baloucoune on the right and Matt Faddes finishes the starting XV from full-back. 

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | We return to @PRO14Official action this weekend and your Ulster team has been named to take on @ospreys at Liberty Stadium on Saturday, kick-off 5.15pm 👇

Full details: https://t.co/QkFJDI3CtA#SUFTUM pic.twitter.com/Ctrc3dfvko

— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) February 14, 2020

There is a huge amount of experience on the bench to call upon if needed with the likes of Jack McGrath, Jordi Murphy, Bill Johnston and Craig Gilroy among the replacements. 

Ulster will be hoping to continue their fine start to the season and maintain their push for a top two finish in Conference A, while the Ospreys will be desperate for a positive result in what has been a terrible season to date as they sit bottom of the conference after 10 games. 

Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below. 

Starting XV: 

Matt Faddes, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, David Shanahan; Eric O’Sullivan, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor (C), Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee

Replacements: 

John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Jordi Murphy, Jonny Stewart, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has announced a strong squad to take on the Cheetahs in the PRO14 at the RDS tomorrow at 14 30.

Despite many of his players being away on Irish duty Cullen has been able to name a vastly experienced side with some youth mixed in. 

Among those included are players released by Ireland head coach Andy Farrell for this weekend with Ronan Kelleher, Will Connors, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath and Dave Kearney all being handed starting positions. 

Either side of Kelleher in the front-row are Peter Dooley and Michael Bent, with Ross Molony partnering captain Scott Fardy in the second-row. 

Rhys Ruddock will hope to keep himself in the frame of an Irish call-up with a good performance at blindside-flanker, with Connors at openside and Deegan completes the starting pack from No 8. 

McGrath comes in at scrum-half and links up with Ciaran Frawley in the half-backs, with Joe Tomane and Jimmy O’Brien outside them in the midfield. 

Dave Kearney takes up a spot on the left-wing, with Fergus McFadden on the right and Rob Kearney seals an experienced back three from full-back where he will hope to impress in the absence of Jordan Larmour. 

On the bench there is a mix of youth and experience too with the likes of Scott Penny and Harry Byrne joining Sean Cronin and Jamison Gibson-Park on the bench. 

.@Scottfardy captains #LeinsterRugby tomorrow with players returning from Ireland camp for #LEIvCHE! ✊🔵🗣#JoinTheRoar #GuinnessPRO14 pic.twitter.com/OfK7yZ9gNE

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) February 14, 2020

Speaking ahead of the game lock Molony believes that even without the international stars the team can get a positive result. 

“The group is in a really good place, everyone can step up,” he said. 

.@rossmolony: "The group is in a really good place – everyone can step up." 💪#LEIvCHE #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/2xb4xHRi3d

— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) February 14, 2020

Leinster will be hoping to continue their perfect start to the season with a 17th win in a row, but they know that it won’t be easy with the Cheetahs looking to remain in the play-off places in what has been a good opening to the season for them to date. 

Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below. 

Starting XV: 

15. Rob Kearney (217)

14. Fergus McFadden (182)

13. Jimmy O’Brien (14)

12. Joe Tomane (19)

11. Dave Kearney (146)

10. Ciarán Frawley (22)

9. Luke McGrath (121)

1. Peter Dooley (73)

2. Rónan Kelleher (10)

3. Michael Bent (132)

4. Ross Molony (93)

5. Scott Fardy (55) (c)

6. Rhys Ruddock (169)

7. Will Connors (13)

8. Max Deegan (60)

Replacements: 

16. Seán Cronin (178)

17. Michael Milne (5)

18. Roman Salanoa (2)

19. Ryan Baird (4)

20. Scott Penny (11)

21. Jamison Gibson-Park (85)

22. Harry Byrne (6)

23. Cian Kelleher (12)

Wasps director of rugby Dai Young could be in line for a return to the Ospreys according to RugbyPass.

Young was relieved of his duties as the Premiership side’s director of rugby earlier in the week with Lee Blackett taking up the role on an interim basis the club confirmed. 

“Director of rugby Dai Young will be stepping back from first-team duties for an interim period. Lee Blackett will step up to interim head coach. Further announcements will be made in due course,” a statement read on Tuesday. 

However, it now appears as though the 51-year-old could make his absence permanent with a shock move to take over as Ospreys head coach. 

The PRO14 outfit have struggled so far this season and have already got rid of one manager in Allen Clarke, who was replaced at the end of 2019, with Mike Ruddock coming in on an interim basis. 

It is unknown how long his contract runs for, but if Young became available and was interested it would seem likely that the former Osprey’s player would be a prime candidate to take control on a full-term basis. 

There are other reports from Wales Online claiming that the Welsh side are checking out Springboks attack coach Swys de Bruin as well. 

Although it would appear as though Young’s experience in bringing clubs to the top would be exactly what Ospreys need and after nine years at the Ricoh Arena hw might like a new challenge.