Jared Payne and Darren Cave in the mix for Ulster ahead of crucial contest against Saracens

Payne has been out of action since late September when he broke a foot playing for Ireland against Romania in the Rugby World Cup.

Cave suffered a shoulder injury in the Guinness PRO12 game against Edinburgh at the start of December.

Both are understood to be back on the training paddock and there was an air of expectancy raised to new levels last week that Payne would be involved against Pool One leaders, Saracens when he was registered as an ‘additional player’ for the European Cup.

Ulster director of rugby, Les Kiss had remained hopeful of Payne’s involvement this weekend.

However, Ulster Rugby said on Tuesday both Payne and Cave would be monitored during training this week ahead of a final team selection.

Ulster produced a remarkable comeback against Oyonnax in France on Sunday, turning around a 23-0 half-time deficit to win the game 24-23 with tries from Craig Gilroy, Kyle McCall and Rory Scholes.

It left the Irish Province six points behind unbeaten group leaders, Saracens.

While Ulster are targeting two wins from their remaining two group games, even a victory over the English Premiership side would not guarantee them topping the group.

Ulster are likely to be targeting a total of six points from the two games - Oyonnax come to Belfast on January 23 - to leave them on 19 points which would give them a decent chance of going through to the knockout stages as one of the best three runners-up across the five pools.

While Payne and Cave are on the road to recovery, Ulster are almost likely to be without powerhouse number eight Nick Williams, who is going through the usual concussions protocols having taken a bang to the head towards the end of the Oyonnax game last weekend.

Louis Ludik was also a doubt with a tight abductor, but he was being monitored in training this week.