Eight of the nine Ulster players called up by Andy Farrell for Ireland's Nations Championship fixtures next month have been selected to feature for the province against the Bulls on Saturday.

The United Rugby Championship fixture in Pretoria [12:45 BST kick-off] is the first of two Richie Murphy's side will play in South Africa, with the Stormers in Cape Town to come on 31 October.

Ulster's international contingent will not be expected to feature in that concluding game of the tour, but Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart and Nick Timoney all start up front this weekend, with Stuart McCloksey, Jamie Benson, Nathan Doak and Jacob Stockdale getting the nod in the back-line.

Uncapped back row James McNabney, who will hope to make a Test bow next month, is among the replacements, with wing Robert Baloucoune the only one of the province's Test call-ups not to feature in Saturday's 23.

Seemingly included in Farrell's squad as a fly-half option, Benson reverts back to outside centre having worn 10 in the win against Zebre in the Challenge Cup last time out.

The versatile Mike Lowry will play left wing for the first time since January 2025, with Murphy opting for a 6:2 split on the bench.

Ulster are searching for a first win of the league season having drawn two and lost one in the competition so far in the 2026-27 campaign.

Ulster: Stockdale; Mullins, Benson, McCloskey, Lowry; Murphy, Doak; O'Toole, Stewart (capt), Knox; Donnell, Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Snyman, McNabney, Devine, Flannery, McKillop