Dave Shanahan ready to grasp moment in starting role for Ulster against Ospreys

The Dubliner is back-up to Ireland’s John Cooney and has made 12 appearances this term but only two starts, but he has been given the No.9 shirt for Friday evening’s clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium and is relishing the opportunity.

“It has been a while since I have started, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“The scrumhalf group in general - we all try to help each other out when we can, obviously we are all competing against each other but that is a pretty important thing in our squad, we all try to push each other and I like to think that is why John had kicked his game on so well this year because we have pushed him hard and stuff.

“We do pick stuff up from each other but at the same time, and I have said it before, the way you do get better is by playing, so I am looking forward to hopefully getting a bit of game time over this period,” he added.

“You can get into a flow of things; you can see John has had an incredible flow this year, he just keeps on from game to game pulling these miracles out of his pockets sometimes and it is great to see, so it is important to get a bit of game time too.”

“Every rugby player wants to play more, even the guys who start every game - they do not want to get put onto the bench, obviously at some point you want to play more, but I do not like to think it is any reflection of myself. I think I am a better player than I was last year even if I played more last year.”

The Ospreys have only won one match in the Pro14 this season but Shanahan thinks the break will benefit the Welsh region.

“They have not had the season they would have liked, they have had a few things off the field and stuff, obviously they have not had the winds they would like as well,” he said.

“We were highlighting at the start of the week that it’s sort of like they’ve had a certain amount of time off as well, and if that was us in that situation, we’d be spending it really getting geared to this game.”

“Physically they are going to be primed and ready to go, I have no doubt their coach has them mentally prepared as well.”

Will Addison misses out with a calf problem, while Stuart McCloskey and Billy starts start after returning from Ireland duty, props Jack McGrath and Tom O’Toole are on the bench.

Ulster team to play Ospreys

(15-9) Matt Faddes, Robert Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns, David Shanahan.

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor (C), Kieran Treadwell, Matthew Rea, Sean Reidy, Marcell Coetzee.

Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Tom O’Toole, David O’Connor, Jordi Murphy, Jonny Stewart, Bill Johnston, Craig Gilroy.