Ulster duo Henderson and McCloskey fit to face Sharks

Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey have been named in the Ulster side to face Cell C Sharks in the final round of the URC regular season tomorrow evening.

The Ireland duo were injury doubts earlier in the week but have proven their fitness to head coach Dan McFarland for the crucial clash at the Kingspan Stadium (7.35pm).

Victory for Ulster, who sit in fifth on 55 points, one point behind third-placed Sharks would secure a home quarter-final berth.

The starting front row sees one change from the 16-10 win over Edinburgh in Round 17. Andrew Warwick takes up the loosehead prop position, with Tom O'Toole coming in at tighthead.

Rob Herring is named at hooker.

Henderson will lead the Ulster men from the second row and will partner Alan O’Connor who returns to the starting line-up.

Marcus Rea is selected at blindside flanker with Nick Timoney given the nod at openside. Duane Vermeulen completes the pack at number 8.

Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune and Ethan McIlroy will form the starting back three.

McCloskey has recovered from injury to partner James Hume in the centre.

Scrum-half, John Cooney, will be one cap away from 100 Ulster appearances on Friday as he is named to partner Billy Burns at out-half.

John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Kieran Treadwell and Matty Rea are named among the forward replacements. Nathan Doak, Stewart Moore and Rob Lyttle will provide the back line reinforcements.

Springboks players Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit and Siya Kolisi (above) are named in the Sharks line-up.

Former Ireland Under-20 head coach Noel McNamara is among the coaching staff with the visitors.

Depending on how all the games go Ulster could finish as high as second or as low as seventh.

Ulster: Mike