Timoney forces his way over for a try against Canada A in pre-season last year.

Timoney forces his way over for a try against Canada A in pre-season last year.

BACK ROW NICK Timoney will play from the start for the first time as Ulster welcome Bernard Jackman’s Dragons to Kingspan Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 19.35, BBC).

The Leinster native will win his fourth provincial caps after three appearances late last season, he slots into the back row between captain Chris Henry and Clive Ross

Iain Henderson will also make his first appearance of the campaign, starting among the replacements after an impressive but but Test-less Lions tour.

Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale remain in place in the back-line, but a Charles Piutau returns from a hamstring issue to bolster the ranks behind Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave and the rotated half-back pairing of Pete Nelson and Paul Marshall.

Jackman meanwhile, has also made a raft of changes in the wake of last weekend’s win over Connacht – likely with an eye on next week’s home fixture against the Kings.

New signing, US international Thretton Palamo comes straight into the starting line-up to partner Pat Howard in the centre.

Ulster

15. Charles Piutau

14. Tommy Bowe

13. Darren Cave

12. Stuart McCloskey

11. Jacob Stockdale

10. Peter Nelson

9. Paul Marshall

1. Kyle McCall

2. Rob Herring

3. Rodney Ah You

4. Robbie Diack

5. Alan O’Connor

6. Clive Ross

7. Chris Henry (Capt.)

8. Nick Timoney

Replacements

16. John Andrew

17. Andy Warwick

18. Wiehahn Herbst

19. Iain Henderson

20. Matty Rea

21. Dave Shanahan

22. Brett Herron

23. Rob Lyttle

Dragons

15 Carl Meyer

14 Adam Hughes

13 Thretton Palamo

12 Pat Howard

11 George Gasson

10 Dorian Jones

9 Owain Leonard

1 Thomas Davies

2 Gerard Ellis

3 Lloyd Fairbrother

4 Matthew Screech

5 Rynard Landman

6 Max Williams

7 Ollie Griffiths (Capt.)

8 Robson Blake

Replacements:

16. Rhys Buckley

17. Phil Price

18. Brok Harris

19. Joe Davies

20. Lennon Greggains

21. Dane Blacker

22. Angus O’Brien

23. Will Talbot-Davies.

Subscribe to The42 podcasts here: