I think Parks has been playing very well as of late

I don't know if ravenhill is the place to give a young lad their first go with the senior squad (blade that is)?
With regards to Nikora I think it just depends on how things go in training and what the gameplan is. I guess what's most important is you can trust either Parks or Nikora off the bench to do a good job.

Does someone else think that Nikora should be rewarded for his last 3-4 solid games, especially as he did a 5/5 kicking rate with the Eagles? I'll put him ahead of Parks, Faloon for Masterson, Poolman ahead of Carr and Blade ahead of Murphy... 4 changes are enough in a team which delivered some good rugby recently...

Ulster's injury profile.

Ruan Pienaar will miss at least six weeks of action after medical tests confirmed the re-occurance of an AC joint problem.

Rory Best has picked up a “significant ankle sprain” and will miss six to eight weeks.

Dan Tuohy broke his hand and will be out until May.

Roger Wilson broken thumb out til May also.

Andrew Trimble has a concussion. The right wing must now complete the IRB’s return-to-play protocols.

John Afoa picked has a disk injury and will definitely miss Friday night’s Pro12 clash with Connacht at Ravenhill.

Also Jared Payne might be facing a suspension.

Squad Update ahead of Ulster game

08th April 2014

The Connacht team are back in action this week when they travel to Ravenhill in Belfast on Friday night to face third placed Ulster in the RaboDirect PRO12.

There were a number of senior players involved in the Connacht Eagles 54 – 21 win over Enisei STM at the weekend. Coaches, teammates and fans were delighted to welcome back flanker Willie Faloon who played 50 minutes for the ‘A’ side. The 27-year-old was sidelined for over six months with a foot injury sustained in round 3 against Ulster. Through hard work and the help of the medical and S&C staff, the Armagh man is back fit ahead of schedule and is available for selection this week.

Also making a return from injury at the weekend was forward George Naoupu. A regular in the Number 8 position, Naoupu started in the second row for the Eagles on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the availability of back rower Mata Fifita is in doubt following a shoulder injury picked up in training on Monday.

Backs Matt Healy (hamstring) and Craig Ronaldson (groin) remain unavailable.

Ulster’s six game winning run in the RaboDirect PRO12 ended when they were defeated 23-28 in Cardiff in round 18. The Ulstermen have lost just once at Ravenhill in the competition in their last 14 matches: 12-13 to Glasgow Warriors on 13th September. Ulster have won their last four home games against fellow Irish provinces.

Connacht’s four game winning run in the PRO12 ended in Llanelli on 30th March. Connacht have lost their last nine contests with fellow Irish provinces, and have not beaten a province on their own soil since a trip to Donnybrook in September 2002.

Connacht’s only victory over Ulster in their last 15 fixtures was 26-21 in Galway in April 2012, whilst they have not won at Ravenhill since November 1960.

The Connacht team to face Ulster will be named at noon on Thursday.

Ulster v Connacht
At Ravenhill Stadium
Kick off 7.05pm.
Live on BBCWales
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 15th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)