Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble return to the backs with Lions flanker Stephen Ferris and prop Tom Court bolstering the forwards.

All four were forced to kick their heels last weekend as the White Knights were downed 15-3 by Leinster due to the IRFU Player Management Programme.

And after welcoming back his big names, Ulster coach McLaughlin insists Ulster are ready to scale the Magners League.

"We are sitting on 19 points and Glasgow are top on 27, but if you look at Glasgow's fixtures over the next couple of weeks they're away to Edinburgh, which will be a tough ask, and then they are at the RDS against Leinster," said McLaughlin

"We have two home fixtures and if we can get two good performances and two wins this week and next week that will take us to 27 points, so it's that tight, but Munster and the Ospreys are never that easy.

"But if we want to stick in and get to be where we want to be in the Magners then these next two games are vital for us."