CAPTAIN JOHANN MULLER could return to give Ulster a timely boost in their top-of-the-table Pro12 clash against Scarlets.
But fellow pack heavyweights Rory Best and Stephen Ferris look set to miss Sunday’s trip to Wales as they continue their own recovery from injury.
Muller has been out of action since he picked up a thumb injury in the Heineken Cup win against Glasgow Warriors last month. Mark Anscombe’s men have since extended their 100% start to 11 games in all competitions, although they did need a slice of luck to keep the streak going with a one-point win away to Treviso last weekend.
Best is targeting a return within the next fortnight and could be fit when Ulster resume their European challenge against Northampton in Franklin’s Gardens on 7 December.
“The injury is coming on well – it’s just like any ligament, it just needs a bit of time and rest,” the hooker said on his neck injury.
“It’s got that now and we’ve trained it pretty hard over the past two weeks. Hopefully in the next while, it should come on a lot and I’ll hopefully be back playing in the next two weeks.”
Ferris (ankle) and Lewis Stevenson (knee) are unlikely to be available for another few weeks yet, the province said, while flanker Sean Doyle has returned to light training following a broken leg.
