Hanrahan a doubt for Connacht's Ulster clash, but Carty cleared for return

JJ Hanrahan is a doubt for Connacht's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster on Saturday, but captain Jack Carty will be available for the first interpro of the season.

Hanrahan has made an impressive start to his career with the western province, scoring 23 points off the tee and dictating an impressive Connacht attack in their opening wins against Ospreys and Glasgow.

Pete Wilkins' side welcome Ulster to the Sportsground on Saturday night as they look to make it three home wins in a row to start the seasonal but Hanrahan is a doubt after picking up a minor knee injury in the win against Glasgow on Saturday.

"JJ hurt that knee catching that high ball, it's nothing serious but we'll assess him in the early part of the week," Wilkins said on Tuesday afternoon.

"We won't take any risks with that. We'll have a look at JJ over the next couple of days but otherwise everyone is intact.

"We're pretty good overall, Tom Farrell came off at half time with a wrist issue but he's absolutely fine, has bounced back well this week."

If Hanrahan does miss out, Carty will most likely step back into the side after a facial injury kept him out of Saturday's win against the Warriors.

"He is, he's been cleared to play, his face injury has cleared up really well and is available for selection," Wilkins added.

It's been an impressive start by Connacht, who are one of just four teams in the division who have won back to back games so far.

Ulster are also part of that quartet though, with Dan McFarland following up a nervy win against Zebre with a far more polished performance on Sunday when they saw of the Bulls.

While Ulster won both regular season meetings between the pair last season, Connacht did beat them when it mattered most, coming out