Ulster will aim to test Henson

Celtic League/Ospreys v Ulster:The most interesting aspect of this game, from an Irish perspective, is the selection of Gavin Henson at fullback at the behest of the Wales coach Gareth Jenkins. The implication is obvious: Wales seem set to play the in-form James Hook at inside centre, captain Stephen Jones at outhalf and Henson at 15 for tomorrow week's Six Nations game at the Millennium Stadium.

Henson could of course have a shocker and be consigned to the Welsh bench. Either way, it's incumbent on Ulster's third-choice outhalf, Adam Larkin, to ask all the pertinent questions of the sometimes brilliant, sometimes calamitous Henson.

With Neil Best, Rory Best, Simon Best, Isaac Boss, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace in the Ireland camp, Ulster are struggling here but they do welcome Stephen Ferris back at blindside after minor hand surgery.

It has been a disastrous three months for the Armagh man, since he made a fairly anonymous debut for Ireland against the Pacific Islands. His supporters claim he shipped a knock early in that contest, so he'll be keen to regain the bone-crunching reputation he had earned.

Matt McCullough is absent with a neck problem but Bryn Cunningham returns to the squad as do Tommy Bowe and Bryan Young. Backrower David Pollack and hooker Stuart Philpott are notable inclusions among the replacements after shining in the underage ranks.

The Ospreys are also without six internationals but do field lock Brent Cockbain and Henson. The players kept back in the Wales camp are Hook, Ryan Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Duncan Jones and Shane Williams, who has a hip injury.

If Larkin kicks his goals, the Ulster pack should be able to tough it out.

OSPREYS: Gavin Henson; Nikki Walker, Tal Selley, Andrew Bishop, Richard Mustoe; Shaun Connor, Justin Marshall; Paul James (capt), Huw Bennett, Andrew Millward; Brent Cockbain, Mike Powell; Andy Lloyd, Richard Pugh, Jonathan Thomas. Replacements: Barry Williams, Cai Griffiths, Chris Martenko, Lee Beach, Steve Tandy, Jason Spice, Stefan Terblanche.

ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, P McKenzie; A Larkin, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, B Young; J Harrison (capt), T Barker; S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: S Philpott, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, D Pollock, P Marshall, S Young, B Cunningham.

Referee: Peter Allen (Scotland).

Verdict: Ulster to win.