Ruan Pienaar returns to Ulster line-up for Dragons clash

Despite having a number of high profile absentees due to injury and international duty, Ulster boss Les Kiss has been able to name a strong line-up for Friday's Pro 12 clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

The province have the opportunity to move to the top of the table if they win at Ravenhill, and their hopes of doing so have been bolstered by the inclusion of Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar, Nick Williams and Robbie Diack in the matchday 23.

Kiss has made four changes from the side which beat Treviso last weekend, with Jackson, Diack, Jacob Stockdale and Peter Browne all brought into the starting line-up.

Louis Ludik, who yesterday signed a contract extension with Ulster, starts at full-back.

Ulster: L Ludik, C Gilroy, D Cave, S Olding, J Stockdale, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; C Black, R Herring, R Lutton, A O'Connor, P Browne, R Diack, S Reidy, R Wilson;

Replacements : J Andrew, K McCall, B Ross, C Ross, N Williams, P Marshall, P Jackson, R Scholes.