Lowry, Timoney and Hume all start for Ulster v Stormers

Ulster have made three changes to their side for Friday night's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Stormers [live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player] in Belfast.

Head coach Dan McFarland has been largely able to call upon the same personnel from last week's crucial win against Sale Sharks, with Ireland internationals Nick Timoney, James Hume and Mike Lowry all starting, as well as Springbok veteran Duane Vermeulen.

Iain Henderson, Rob Herring and Tom O'Toole are unavailable after linking up with the Irish squad on their Six Nations training camp, as are Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale, who drop out of the starting team.

Eric O'Sullivan is the only fresh face in the pack, coming in at loosehead prop to partner Tom Stewart and Jeff Toomaga-Allen in the front row, with Alan O'Connor captaining the side from lock alongside Australian Sam Carter.

Academy prospect Harry Sheridan retains his place in the back row after impressing on his first start last week, and is joined by Timoney and Vermeulen.

John Cooney must once again contend himself with a place in the bench, as Nathan Doak gets the nod at scrum-half to start alongside Billy Burns.

Stewart Moore replaces McCloskey to partner Hume in the centre, while Ben Moxham starts on the wing, with Rob Lyttle and Lowry completing the starting side.

McFarland has packed his replacements bench with experience, with Rory Sutherland, Kieran Treadwell, Cooney and Ian Madigan all included.

Ulster: Mike Lowry; Rob Lyttle, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ben Moxham; Billy Burns, Nathan Doak; Eric O'Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Jeff Toomaga-Allen; Alan O’Connor (captain), Sam Carter; Harry Sheridan, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: John Andrew, Rory Sutherland, Andrew Warwick, Kieran