A spree of new signings are ready and waiting to make their bows as Ospreys prepare for a trip to Ulster, looking to upset a side with a proud home record.

The Irish province lost only once at the Kingspan Stadium last term, a second-place finish in Conference A their reward.

And Dan McFarland has handed debuts to a trio of summer acquisitions as they look to go one better this time around, with Jack McGrath, Sam Carter and Matt Faddes all in-line to start.

For Ospreys, Gareth Evans gets the nod in the back row after joining from Gloucester, while academy graduate Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler is named among the replacements.

Kick-off: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast | 19:35 (UK) Friday 27 September

How to watch: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast | Live on Premier Sports & DAZN – Broadcast partners

Players to watch out for: Jordi Murphy (Ulster) and Gareth Evans (Ospreys)

There is an interesting battle shaping up at the back of both packs, with new boy Evans thrown in at the deep end against a Murphy-marshalled Ulster trio.

The former Gloucester man is a ball-carrier by nature and will need to be at his bustling best if he is to outshine Ulster stalwart Murphy.

Key stat: Ulster have been defeated on the opening weekend just once since 2009, at Dragons in 2013.

Ulster: Matt Faddes, Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, James Hume, Rob Lyttle, Billy Burns, John Cooney; Jack McGrath, Rob Herring ©, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Sam Carter, Matthew Rea, Jordi Murphy, Sean Reidy

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Ross Kane, Alan O’Connor, Greg Jones, David Shanahan, Michael Lowry, Louis Ludik

Ospreys: Dan Evans, Luke Morgan, Cory Allen, Scott Williams, Keelan Giles, Luke Price, Matthew Aubrey; Rhodri Jones, Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Lloyd Ashley, James King, Dan Lydiate ©, Olly Cracknell, Gareth Evans

Replacements: Scott Otten, Gareth Thomas, Gheorghe Gajion, Sam Cross, Dan Baker, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Cai Evans, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler