Lyttle set for Ulster return two years after last game

Rob Lyttle is set to make his first Ulster appearance in two years after being named on the bench for Friday's must-win Investec Champions Cup pool game against Exeter Chiefs in Belfast (20:00 GMT).

The 27-year-old Banbridge wing left Ulster at the end of the 2022-23 season, but has been training with the squad in recent months amid a back-three injury crisis.

Lyttle, who scored 19 tries in 64 games during his first spell, has signed a short-term deal as injury cover and is drafted into head coach Richie Murphy's matchday squad as backline support with Ethan McIlroy and Zac Ward ruled out.

Exeter, who like Ulster have lost all three games so far, make 12 changes with only wings Ben Hammersley and Paul Brown-Bampoe and prop Josh Iosefa-Scott retained after last week's heavy loss to Bordeaux.

England back Henry Slade and Wales forward Dafydd Jenkins are among those not included by the Premiership strugglers.

Ulster were already without Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune and Ben Moxham, while Aaron Sexton has left to pursue a career in the NFL.

However, in addition to Lyttle's return, Murphy welcomes Mike Lowry and Stewart Moore back to a team that shows five changes from last week's defeat by Leicester Tigers.

"It's obvious we're missing a lot of depth in that area," said Murphy.

"Young Rory Telfer played has played well in the last couple of weeks but we felt we needed a little bit more experience in there.

"Rob Lyttle has been at this level loads of times before. He's been out of the Ulster fold for a couple of years but he was in training with us a couple of weeks ago and we felt it was the right time to bring him into the matchday 23."

Eric O'Sullivan and Ireland international Rob Herring return to Ulster's front row while fly-half Jack Murphy makes his first Champions Cup start with Aidan Morgan not included in the matchday squad.

Ireland's Six Nations squad members Iain Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu start in the second row while James McNabney starts in the back row after his international call-up as a development player.

Hooker Tom Stewart and fly-half Jake Flannery make the Ulster bench after returning from injury.

Ulster require a bonus-point win and need the Sharks' game with Bordeaux to go in their favour if they are to qualify for the knockout rounds.

The Sharks also have a vastly superior points difference over Ulster.

A win would guarantee Challenge Cup rugby at a minimum, while defeat would send Exeter through at Ulster's expense.

"Where we are now in the season, every game is important so we're expecting this game against Ulster to give our players another chance to test themselves," said Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter.

"The lads got themselves back on track in training this week very quickly and they look excited by the prospect of this game.

"We're going to try to drive our performance on the field in Ulster. When you're losing, you can get focused on 'when will the win come' and you can forget to actually play the games. So, we've got simple targets for this week to just play and try to implement our game plan."

Ulster: S Moore; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, M Lowry; J Murphy, N Doak; E O'Sullivan, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson (capt), C Izuchukwu; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.

Replacements: C Reid, T Stewart, C Barrett, H Sheridan, K Treadwell, J Cooney, J Flannery, R Lyttle.

Exeter: H Skinner; B Hammersley, J Hawkins, W Rigg, P Brown-Bampoe; W Haydon-Wood, N Armstrong; W Goodrick-Clarke, J Innard (capt), J Isoefa-Scott; R Tuima, C Tshiunza; M Moloney, R Capstick, R Vintcent.

Replacements: Max Norey, K Blose, J Roots, J Dunne, L Pearson, J Bailey, T Cairns, Z Wimbush.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)