Stuart McCloskey and John Cooney return for Ulster

McCloskey was part of Andy Farrell’s Six Nations squad but failed to make the matchday 23 for the Italy or France games and has been released back to his province to get some game time before the Nations Cup begins in two weeks.

John Cooney has also been released byIreland after being drafted in last week as cover for Jamison Gibson-Park.

Outhalf Billy Burns is set for his first action of the new season having missed the wins over Benetton, Ospreys and the Dragons.

Centre Luke Marshall returns to the matchday squad for the first time since facing the Cheetahs in February, he’s on the bench as McCloskey and Stewart Moore start in midfield. South African No8 Marcell Coetzee misses the trip to Newport with an ankle problem.

Hooker John Andrew starts on the bench despite an impressive display against the Dragons last week.

Andrew signed a new contract at Ulster near the end of last season.

“I didn’t know what was going to be offered or if there was going to be an offer, that’s the life of a rugby player, where you know that your contracts aren’t long and you know the year you’re coming into is the last year of your contract,” said Andrew.

“That’s the nature of it, you just have to do what you can do, train as hard as you can, when you get an opportunity, try and play as well as you can.

“Rugby is a business as well, they’re not going to keep you there if you’re no good. I was obviously very happy that they gave me an offer, at the tail end of last season I was happy to be involved in those big games, there were a lot of big games and I was happy to get a chance there on Sunday to start.

“If you’re going home every night stressing and worrying what’s coming at the end of the season, or whenever they’ll be discussing contracts, they can feel like very long months.

“I’m just trying to enjoy every opportunity I get, enjoy training, try to get better, and then enjoy it when and if I get a chance to play.”

Ulster only lost one of 11 lineouts on their own throw against the Dragons and Andrew is hoping the set piece will function well against an inform Blues team.

“A lineout, there’s eight of us at any one time, and everything has to be going right for you to win the ball,” he said.

“Your caller has to make a good call, your jumper has to jump right, your lifters have to lift right and then the thrower has to throw.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into it, honestly, for every team, we work at it throughout the week and every week.

“It’s nice when it comes off and it’s nice when your efforts are rewarded on the match, because ultimately that’s what you’re training for and you’re practicing for when the pressure’s on in the game.”

“I think it gives the whole team a bit of confidence because you want to run your strike moves or maul off those lineouts, whatever the game plan is, when you’re winning them, that’s the first part of the jigsaw that needs put together.”

Ulster team to play Cardiff Blues,

(15-9): Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Louis Ludik, Billy Burns (Capt.), John Cooney;

(1-8) : Eric O’Sullivan, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Jack McGrath, Ross Kane, Sam Carter, Sean Reidy, Alby Mathewson, Luke Marshall, Ethan McIlroy.