McCloskey and Timoney return as Humphreys starts for Ulster
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Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney return for Ulster against Zebre on Saturday (19:45 GMT) with James Humphreys making his first start.
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Six Nations Player of the Tournament nominee McCloskey will be partnered by the returning James Hume with Timoney back in at openside flanker as Richie Murphy makes ten changes to the side that lost to Connacht last week.
Humphreys has made one appearance for Ulster this season - coming off the bench in their Challenge Cup defeat to Cardiff in December - and is trusted with his first senior start in Italy.
The son of former Ulster fly-half and current IRFU technical director David, the 24-year-old featured four times last season and starts alongside Conor McKee in the half-backs.
Experienced prop Eric O'Sullivan comes into the front row with academy product Tom McAllister making his second start for the province either side of Rob Herring in an all-changed front three as Australia international Angus Bell is named on the bench.
Ulster: McIlroy; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Humphreys, McKee; O'Sullivan, Herring, McAllister; Henderson, Hopes; McCann, B Ward, Timoney.