MAGNERS LEAGUE
Venue: Ravenhill Date: Friday, 3 September Kick-off: 1905 BST Coverage: Live on BBC NI, BBC TWO Wales & online, highlights on Sunday's Scrum V

Richard Fussell will make his Ospreys debut in their Magners League opener at Ulster on Friday after the wing's summer move from Newport Gwent Dragons.

All Black great Jerry Collins declared himself fit after double summer surgery and will captain the Ospreys as they begin the defence of their title.

Adam D'Arcy starts at full-back for Ulster after agreeing a one-year deal while scrum-half Paul Marshall returns.

Ireland pair Paddy Wallace and Tom Court are on the bench.

Former New Zealand flanker Collins underwent knee and shoulder surgery in the summer and was expected to return in October but has give Ospreys coach Scott Johnson a boost by returning earlier.

"I've just done what was pretty much my first full on week of training and at this stage the knee and the shoulder feel on track," said Collins.

British and Irish Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips is not risked as he still recovering from a knee injury he picked up on Wales' June tour of New Zealand.

While Phillips' Wales team-mates Ryan Jones (knee), James Hook (shoulder) and Jonathan Spratt (knee) are all also out.

But Collins, who played more minutes than an other Ospreys player last season, is fit as the Ospreys start their Magners League defence against Ulster at Ravenhill on Friday.

Ospreys physio Chris Towers confirmed: "Jerry was reintroduced to full rugby training last week without any problems.

"He will now be considered available for selection this weekend should the coaches feel that he is required."

The 29-year-old initially targeted a return to action for their Heineken Cup opener against his former club Toulon on 9 October after his double operation in the summer.

Wales stars Lee Byrne and Shane Williams are among the Ospreys replacements.

New captain and lock Alun Wyn Jones, meanwhile, is still returning to match fitness as he, prop Adam Jones and wings Tommy Bowe and Tom Prydie are due to return later after gaining extra time off due to their international commitments at the end of last season.

The Ospreys, who won their third Celtic crown last term, are seeking to become the first side to successfully defend the league title.

"It's good to start with a difficult game as a benchmark for the season," said new captain Alun Wyn Jones.

The Ospreys have only lost once in their opening league games since the Celtic League was formed in 2003 - and have won their last three visits to Ravenhill, losing once in seven games against Ulster.

But the Welsh region start this season's Magners League campaign on minus four points after being docked them and fined £100,000 for postponing their 19 March game at Ulster last season.

A Celtic Rugby disciplinary panel found they "breached the tournament rules and consequently their actions amounted to misconduct."

The Ospreys asked to postpone the game insisting they did not have sufficient front-row cover to fulfil the fixture.

Australian player D'Arcy starred in Ulster's friendly win over Leeds Carnegie.

Tommy Seymour switches to the right wing in place of the injured Craig Gilroy while David McIlwaine comes in on the left wing.

D'Arcy, Seymour and McIlwaine will make their first Magners League appearances for Ulster, along with South African pair Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenburg.

Marshall returns at scrum-half having recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the opening friendly against Bath last month.

Prop Paddy McAllister, who sustained a neck and back injury against Bath, has been passed fit to play.

Ian Humphreys has been omitted from the Ulster match squad.

South Africans Ruan Pienaar and BJ Botha were not considered for Ulster because of Tri-Nations duty while Andrew Trimble, Simon Danielli, Jamie Smith, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, David Pollock and Bryn Cunningham are injured.

"I'm delighted to welcome Tom and Paddy back from Irish duty and have no doubt that they will further bolster a squad that has already gelled impressively in pre-season encounters," said Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin.

"We've had three good warm-up games in August that have allowed the management to try a wide range of players but it only starts counting from now and we are looking forward to testing ourselves in the tournament against last season's winners," he added.

Ulster: Adam D'Arcy; Tommy Seymour, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, David McIlwaine; Niall O'Connor, Paul Marshall; Bryan Young, Rory Best, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller, Tim Barker, Stephen Ferris, Willie Faloon, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Replacements: Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Paddy McAllister, Ryan Caldwell, Robbie Diack, Ian Porter, Paddy Wallace, Jonny Shiels.

Ospreys: Gareth Owen; Nikki Walker, Andrew Bishop, Sonny Parker, Richard Fussell; Dan Biggar, Jamie Nutbrown; Ryan Bevington, Mefin Davies, Craig Mitchell, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Jerry Collins (capt), Marty Hollah, Jonathan Thomas.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Paul James, Cai Griffiths, James Goode, Ben Lewis, Rhys Webb, Lee Byrne, Shane Williams

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