Ulster to field strong side

Ulster coach Mark McCall is able to call upon the majority of his Ireland players ahead of tomorrow night's Magners Celtic League game against the Dragons at Ravenhill. The only player involved with the national squad recently who misses out is hooker Rory Best, who started against France at Croke Park last Sunday.

Isaac Boss, who played the full Six Nations game against the French, is available for the Ulster match and is likely to start in the number nine jersey. Andrew Trimble and Neil Best - who came on as replacements at Croke Park - are likely to be start against the Dragons.

There was further good news with the confirmation that David Humphreys has recovered from the elbow injury sustained against Leinster and will probably be named at outhalf. Ulster must plan without Mark Bartholomeusz, who sustained an injury to his posterior cruciate ligament during the Ospreys game and will be out of rugby for six to eight weeks.

Also missing is second row Matt McCullough who is dogged by the recurrence of a toe injury, a problem that will need careful rehabilitation and will be monitored on a match-to-match basis. McCall has included new signing Sam Harding, although he could miss out on the match squad when the panel is trimmed by a single player.

Their opponents, the Dragons, enjoyed an unbeaten run in January - their most recent victory a 48-0 thumping of the Border Reivers.

They too have named a 23-man squad that includes Welsh test players Aled Brew, Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper and Colin Charvis alongside a couple of under 20 internationals in Ashley Smith and Jamie Corsi.

Definitely out are Nathan Brew and Craig Warlow (both ankle), Joe Bearman (hip), Lee Harrison (foot), Kieran Crawford and Steve Jones (both shoulder).

The Dragons' fortunes were bolstered this week by the confirmation that the coaching team of Paul Turner, Leigh Jones and Dai Rees have all signed contract extensions keeping them at the regional club until the end of next season.

ULSTER SQUAD: K Campbell, I Boss, D Humphreys, P Wallace, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, P McKenzie, B Cunningham, T Bowe, J Fitzpatrick, B Young, S Best, P Shields, S Philpott, J Harrison (captain), T Barker, R Caldwell, K Dawson, R Wilson, S Ferris, N Best, S Harding.

DRAGONS SQUAD: A Thomas, G Wyatt, A Brew, R Fussell, P Emerick, A Smith, C Sweeney, M Hercus, G Cooper, A Walker, A Black, J Corsi, G Robinson, B Daly, R Wilkes, L Charteris, P Sidoli, B Griffiths, A Hall, C Charvis, J Ringer, N Fitisemanu, M Owen.