United Rugby Championship: World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff named on Ulster bench for Glasgow trip
Written by I Dig SportsDouble World Cup winner Steven Kitshoff is in line to make his Ulster debut in Saturday's United Rugby Championship trip to Glasgow Warriors.
The prop, who has not played since winning his second World Cup with South Africa last month, is named on the bench for the meeting at Scotstoun.
Centre Stuart McCloskey is a surprise omission from the squad, with Ulster saying he is being rested.
Fly-half Billy Burns comes into the side for his 100th appearance.
Head coach Dan McFarland has also handed a first senior start to number eight James McNabney, who has come through the club's academy.
McCloskey's Ireland team-mate Rob Herring is unavailable due to a calf injury and is replaced at hooker by Tom Stewart.
McFarland makes 10 changes in total from the team that earned a gritty 24-17 home victory against the Lions in Belfast last week - his side's fourth win from their opening five URC games of the season.
Luke Marshall replaces McCloskey at inside centre, Will Addison comes in for Stewart Moore at full-back and John Cooney is promoted from the bench to start at scrum-half in place of Nathan Doak, while Jake Flannery drops to the bench as Burns starts at fly-half.
In a rotated front row, Eric O'Sullivan starts at loosehead prop, Tom Stewart is back at hooker and Tom O'Toole returns to the teamsheet at tighthead prop.
Iain Henderson captains the side once more, joined by Kieran Treadwell in the second row, with a young back-row seeing Harry Sheridan start at blindside flanker, Reuben Crothers retaining his spot at openside flanker, and McNabney, making his Ulster debut at eight.
Glasgow have also made a strong start to their URC campaign, beating Leinster in their opener and, like Ulster, going into Saturday's encounter having won four of their five matches.
Ulster: Will Addison; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Luke Marshall, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Eric O'Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Tom O'Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (capt); Harry Sheridan, Reuben Crothers, James McNabney.
Replacements: Zac Solomon, Marty Moore, Matty Rea, Jake Flannery, Steven Kitshoff, Alan O'Connor, Dave Shanahan, Ben Moxham.