Springbok hardman Duane Vermeulen will start for Ulster in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against the DHL Stormers in Belfast on Friday.
Vermeulen will face his former team when he pulls on the No 8 jersey at Kingspan Stadium. The veteran completes a strong back row alongside Ireland international Nick Timoney and Academy product Harry Sheridan.
Ulster make one change to the front row, with loosehead prop Eric O’Sullivan coming in alongside Tom Stewart and Jeff Toomaga-Allen.
BY THE NUMBERS: Ulster vs Stormers
Alan O’Connor will lead the side once again, with club captain Iain Henderson in camp with the Ireland squad ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
The back three has just one change, with youngster Ben Moxham coming in for Jacob Stockdale.
Ulster assistant coach Jonny Bell said the province know just how big a threat the Stormers pose.
“They are going to be a very difficult animal to what we faced last week,” he told the club’s official website.
“They are powerful, but move really fast around the pitch, so we need to control the ball well when we have it and make sure that we are smart defensively.”
ALSO: Roos ready to go in Belfast
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Your Ulster side to face DHL Stormers tomorrow at Kingspan stadium in the @URCOfficial ?
?️ Tickets available: https://t.co/OXaNkJGADv pic.twitter.com/0p68RM7Mib
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) January 26, 2023
Picks: @mark_keohane predicts a hurdle in the Stormers’ path to the playoffs, while Zels backs a bolstered Cape side to get it done against Ulster in the @Vodacom #URC on Friday evening. pic.twitter.com/AKEjw24LkW
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) January 26, 2023
Photo: @UlsterRugby/Twitter