MAGNERS LEAGUE Venue: Ravenhill Date: Friday, 19 February Kick-off: 1905 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales and online, commentary on BBC Radio Ulster MW
Best has made two substitute appearances in this year's Six Nations
Rory Best is in the Ulster team to play the Dragons on Friday night despite being called up for Ireland's Six Nations match against England.
Hooker Best will face England at Twickenham on 27 February after Jerry Flannery got a six-week suspension.
Dragons lock Luke Charteris returns from Wales duty to captain the side while Dan Lydiate is in the back row.
Wales Under-20 star Jason Tovey starts at outside half with Martyn Thomas retaining his full-back spot.
Paddy Wallace, who came on as a replacement for Ireland against France, is in at centre for Ulster, but first-choice Irish flanker Stephen Ferris is unavailable.
Best comes into the Ulster pack in place of Nigel Brady who is a replacement.
Ian Humphreys returns at fly-half while Thomas Anderson covers for the absence of Ferris.
"It is great to get back to Magners League rugby. This is a really big game for us," said McLaughlin.
"This will be our first fixture since our away win in Bath at the end of January, so we will have to be very focused and play at our very best to beat a quality Dragons side.
"The Dragons are on the same league points as us, they have won five and lost five, and they got one over on us in the first game of the season in Wales, so we owe them one this Friday night.
Lydiate keen for Dragons return
"We were outmuscled that day - they bullied us and played very well.
"They are coming here on the back of a good win over Saracens and will be full of confidence.
"This is a match they will definitely be targeting for a win so we need to be really focused and make sure we get a bit of revenge.
"It's a really big game for both teams, with qualification from the top four in the Magners League our priority now.
"We must keep the ball in hand and play some strong running rugby.
"The players have been training hard over the Six Nations break and the British and Irish Cup matches have helped us keep ticking over."
Ulster currently sit in sixth place in the league table with Dragons in seventh.
The home side have won all three matches they have played in 2010, whilst their only defeat at Ravenhill since September was 13-25 to Glasgow on 4 December.
The Dragons have won their last two games in the LV= Cup, but in the Magners League have suffered back-to-back defeats at the hands of the Blues and Scarlets.
Ulster have lost their last three matches against the Welsh side Dragons, who have only one away win in the league this season.
Wales Sevens star Will Harries earns a start on the wing after strong performances against the Ospreys and Saracens.
Centres Tom Riley and Rhodri Gomer Davies come in for Matthew Watkins Ashley Smith respectively.
Ulster: J Smith, A Trimble, D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli, I Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, BJ Botha, D Tuohy, E O'Donoghue, T Anderson, D Pollock, C Henry (cpt). Replacements: N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, R Diack, I Porter, I Whitten, T Nagusa.
Dragons: Martyn Thomas; Will Harries, Tom Riley, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Aled Brew; Jason Tovey, Wayne Evans; Hugh Gustafson, Steve Jones, Pat Palmer, Rob Sidoli, Luke Charteris, Danny Lydiate, Gavin Thomas, Grant Webb. Replacements: Tom Willis, Ben Castle, Adam Jones, James Harris, Matthew Watkins, James Arlidge, James Leadbeater
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