AS ULSTER’S ATTENTION turns to securing a Guinness Pro14 play-off berth, Dan McFarland has named a strong team for his side’s trip to Glasgow Warriors on Friday evening, with 10 players retained from last weekend’s defeat to Leinster.

While captain Rory Best misses out through injury, the likes of Jacob Stockdale, John Cooney, Marty Moore, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee are all selected to start the round 19 encounter at Scotstoun [KO 7.35pm, Premier Sports/eir Sport].

Marshall is back after a long injury lay-off. Source: Matt Mackey/INPHO

Luke Marshall will make his first start in just under a year when he lines up in midfield alongside Stuart McCloskey, after the centre made his long-awaited injury comeback off the bench at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday. 

Marshall has battled back from a serious knee injury sustained in the Champions Cup play-off last May and after making a try-scoring cameo in the European quarter-final defeat in Dublin, will look to make an impact as Ulster chase silverware.

The northern province are sitting second in Conference B behind Leinster with a four-point advantage over Benetton and seven-point buffer on Edinburgh, who they face next weekend.

McFarland’s team selection reflects the importance of the next two rounds of action, with the Ulster head coach making just five changes in personnel as Rob Lyttle, Marshall, Rob Herring, Alan O’Connor and Sean Reidy all come into the starting XV. 

Billy Burns and Cooney again form the half-back pairing while O’Connor comes into the second row alongside Kieran Treadwell to captain the side, with Reidy joining Murphy and Coetzee in the back row. 

John Andrew, Andy Warwick and Tom O’Toole will cover the front row on the bench, with Ian Nagle and Matthew Rea named as the additional forward replacements.

David Shanahan, Darren Cave — who announced he will retire at the end of the season yesterday — and U20 Grand Slam winner Angus Kernohan will provide the backline options.

Glasgow, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their disappointment at Allianz Park last weekend where they were blown away by a rampant Saracens outfit in their Champions Cup quarter-final.

Gray is set to make his 100th Glasgow appearance. Source: Craig Watson/INPHO

Dave Rennie’s side lead Conference A by three points and will be looking to take a big step towards securing a home semi-final having lost just twice at Scotstoun this season –to Saracens in the Champions Cup pool stages and Edinburgh in the Pro14.

Scottish international Jonny Gray will make his 100th appearance for the Warriors, who have plenty of experience in their side, while Tommy Seymour returns to the wing after recovering from a rib injury sustained during the Six Nations.