Paddy Jackson to captain Ulster as Roger Wilson makes 200th appearance

Roger Wilson will line out for Ulster for the 200th time in Sunday's game against Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium.

Wilson, who made his Ulster debut in September 2003, against Neath-Swansea Ospreys, has played well over 300 professional club games after also enjoying a four-year stint with Northampton Saints, with whom he won the European Challenge Cup in 2009.

Rob Herring has a slight hamstring injury so John Andrew will make his first senior start, at hooker. Herring’s absence also means that outhalf Paddy Jackson will skipper Les Kiss’ starting team for the first time.

Andrew is joined in the front row by props Andy Warwick and Ricky Lutton, while Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe will continue in the second row.

Wilson will be joined in the back row by Robbie Diack and Chris Henry, who will start for the first time since December after fully recovering from injury. Nick Williams is unavailable for selection due to a shoulder injury.

Paul Marshall will partner Jackson at half back, with Luke Marshall returning from international duty to take a place at inside centre alongside Darren Cave, as Kiss continues to manage his midfield playing resources.

The back three of Craig Gilroy, Jacob Stockdale and Stuart Olding, who signed a contract extension earlier this week, remains unchanged from the win over Glasgow last week.

Hooker, Johnny Murphy, could make his competitive debut for the Province after being named on the bench. Kyle McCall, Bronson Ross, Pete Browne and Clive Ross are the other forward replacements in Kiss’ squad.

Ruan Pienaar, Ian Humphreys and Sammy Arnold are also included in the match day 23.

ULSTER: S Olding; C Gilroy, D Cave, L Marshall, J Stockdale, P Jackson (captain), P Marshall; A Warwick, J Andrew, R Lutton; A O'Connor, F van der Merwe; R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson;

Replacements: J Murphy, K McCall, B Ross, P Browne, C Ross, R Pienaar, I Humphreys, S Arnold.