Neil McMillan has been given the responsibility of the captain's armband in the absence of Andy Ward for Ulster's Celtic League tie with the Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Saturday.
David Humphreys and Simon Best, both released by Ireland, will start, as will centre Shane Stewart, scrum-half Kieran Campbell and hooker Paul Shields.
Ulster (v Gwent): B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, PSteinmetz, S Young; D Humphreys, K Campbell; R Kempson, P Shields, S Best, G Longwell, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillan (capt), R Wilson.