Ireland internationals Iain Henderson, Jacob Stockdale and Nick Timoney are all available for Ulster’s return to United Rugby Championship action on Friday against Benetton at Affidea Stadium (19:45 GMT).

The trio reported back for club duty at the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series this week as Richie Murphy’s men seek to get back to winning ways following their 49-31 defeat by the Lions in South Africa in late October.

There is further good news on the injury front as Juarno Augustus and Cormac Izuchukwu are back in training with their progress to be monitored this week.

Augustus suffered an arm injury in the 34-26 win over the Lions in the first leg of Ulster’s South Africa tour last month and missed out on the Lions game.

Izuchukwu sustained a foot injury in Ulster’s last home game in the URC – a 28-7 win over the Bulls – and missed out on the trip to South Africa plus Ireland’s November internationals, but could return this week.

That news is tempered by confirmation that Ben Carson and Michael Lowry will miss out this week with Carson sustaining a hamstring injury in Ulster A’s victory over the Connacht Eagles last Friday, while Lowry suffered an ankle in jury in the Ireland XV win against Spain three weeks ago.

Stuart McCloskey is also out due to the groin injury picked up in Ireland’s win over Australia, joining Lorcan McLoughlin (elbow), Sean Reffell (shoulder), Ben Moxham (knee), Ethan McIlroy (knee), Eric O’Sullivan (hamstring) and James McNabney (knee) on the sidelines.