Youthful Ulster to face Portugal

David Pollock captained the Ireland Under-20s to a Grand Slam

David Pollock will captain a youthful Ulster side in Thursday's friendly game against Portugal at Ravenhill.

Pollock skippered Ireland to an Under-20 Grand Slam as well as captaining his country in Under-19 and Under-21 World Championships.

Neil Hanna and Thomas Anderson are named in the pack while the backline includes Ian Whitten and Mark McCrea.

Prop Bryan Young will return to action after being ruled out for nearly two months because of injury.

Hooker Hanna hasn't featured in an Ulster squad since the pre-season friendlies in August.

Ian Humphreys will start at fly-half while Timoci Nagusa is named at right-wing with Bryn Cunningham handed the full-back jersey.

Ulster Academy members Chris Cochrane and James Sandford are named on a 10-strong replacements bench which includes veterans Kieron Dawson and Justin Fitzpatrick.

Ulster assistant coach Steve Williams is expecting the Portuguese to present the Irish province with a tough test.

Portugal produced a competitive display in losing 27-11 against Connacht in Galway on Sunday and Williams says that Ulster will not be underestimating the visitors.

"They are an international side and showed plenty of fight against Connacht at the weekend," said Williams.

"This is a good chance for us to try and build on the Munster victory and also give some of our younger players a chance to show us what they can do."

Ulster: B Cunningham;T Nagusa, D Cave, I Whitten, M McCrea; I Humphreys, C Willis; B Young, N Hanna, BJ Botha, M McCullough, E O'Donoghe, T Anderson, D Pollock (capt), R Diack.
Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, D Fitzpatrick, K Dawson, I Boss, N O'Connor, P Steinmetz, C Henry, J Sandford, C Cochrane.

Portugal: L Kadosh; A Esteves, D Gama, F Mira, G Foro; P Cabral, J Pinto; G Duarte, J Correia (Capt), J Severino, V Jorge, G Silva, J Bardi, A Duarte, E Acosta.
Replacements: L Balague, B Duarte, J Junior, N Taful, D Fialho, A Sousa, F Oliveira, M Leal, Y Ricardo, V Gaspar.