WHILE it is a case of wait and see on the backrow fitness issues with Stephen Ferris and Nick Williams - the latter likely to be included in the 23-man panel to go to Scotland on Thursday morning for the Pool Four match against Glasgow on Friday night at Scotstoun – Ulster head coach Mark Anscombe was expected to name South African Ruan Pienaar as the starting scrumhalf.
The Springbok only returned from international action last week, but he has game time under his belt and his cameo appearance off the bench for 20 minutes in the 41-17 success against Castres at Ravenhill proved more than fruitful.
He raced in during stoppage time to score the fourth try which secured a full haul of five points for Ulster in the Pool Four opener.
Starting scrumhalf, Paul Marshall, scored two tries and was deservedly named as the Heineken man of the match - even getting a standing ovation when he was withdrawn on the hour mark as planned.
But Ulster look set to give Pienaar the start against Glasgow.
“Paul Marshall had a superb game last week and was rightly named man of the match and there is no question about the way he played.
“But Ruan is a world class player and we are fortunate to have them both and I think in these games it is a matter of using them the right way.
“It is an 80 minute game and it is no longer a 15-man game. It is really important that we use them both for the best of the team.”
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