Ulster v Connacht (Tue)

Mark McCall has left some options open for teh Connacht game

Ravenhill, Belfast
Tuesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1730 GMT
*Live online, BBC Radio Ulster MW

Ulster coach Mark McCall has yet to decide on three places in the team to face Connacht in the Magners League at Ravenhill on Tuesday.

David Humphreys and Paddy Wallace are in contention for the fly-half berth, while either Rory Best or Paul Shields will play at hooker.

Justin Harrison's partner at lock is between Matt McCullough and Tim Barker.

David Gannon, Ray Ofisa, Colm Rigney, Chris Keane and Darren Yapp all come into the Connacht side.

Ryan Strudwick, Matt Lacey, Michael Swift, Conor O'Loughlin and Ted Robinson are the players dropping out.

Ulster had a light work-out on Sunday with their Irish international squad members back from a week-long training camp in Portugual.

"We have two big games in five days and will be rotating players," said coach McCall.

Champions Ulster cannot afford any slip-ups against a province which has not won at Ravenhill for 46 years.

McCall's men are three points ahead of second-placed Llanelli but the Welsh club has two games in hand.

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Ulster: B Cunningham, M Bartholomeusz, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, A Trimble, D Humphreys/Paddy Wallace, K Campbell, J Fitzpatrick, P Shields/R Best, S Best (cpt), J Harrison, M McCullough/T Barker, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson.
Replacements: P Shields/R Best, B Young, M McCullough/T Barker, K Dawson, I Boss, D Humphreys/P Wallace, T Bowe.

Connacht: D Riordan, D Yapp, P Warwick, G Williams, K Matthews, Mark McHugh, Chris Keane, Brett Wilkinson, John Fogarty (c), S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney.
Replacements: A Flavin, B Sturgess, M Swift, M Lacey, C O'Loughlin, J Hearty, T Robinson.