RUAN PIENAAR IS in line to make his 100th appearance for Ulster after being named at scrum-half for this Friday’s Guinness Pro12 game with Leinster.
Pienaar will bring up his century alongside Paddy Jackson with Stuart McCloskey and Darren Cave continuing their midfield partnership.
Peter Nelson is one of four new faces introduced by Less Kiss as he starts at full-back with the back three completed by Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble.
Up front, Kyle McCall, Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy are all included in the pack with Iain Henderson starting at lock for the first time this season.
He will combine with fellow Ireland international Dan Tuohy in the second row, with Franco van der Merwe rested.
Ulster XV to face Leinster
15. Peter Nelson
14. Andrew Trimble
13. Darren Cave
12. Stuart McCloskey
11. Craig Gilroy
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Kyle McCall
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Iain Henderson
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Robbie Diack
7. Sean Reidy
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. Rob Herring
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Ricky Lutton
19. Roger Wilson
20. Chris Henry
21. Paul Marshall
22. Ian Humphreys
23. Louis Ludik
