Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey runs through to score a try during the victory over Scarlets
Ulster have confirmed that Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey is among four players who are at risk of missing Saturday’s United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final clash with Leinster due to injury.
The Bangor man withdrew from last week’s game against Munster due to a groin strain he sustained in the warm-up, with the province confirming he will be assessed during the week to determine his availability for the Aviva Stadium trip.
The same applies to full-back Ethan McIlroy, who was also due to start in the Thomond Park defeat but similarly withdrew prior to kick-off with a back problem and will now be monitored to see if he will be fit enough to return.
Should neither player pull through for the trip to Dublin then it seems likely that the two players who replaced them in Limerick, Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore, would get the nod for the last-eight tie.
While Moore is now a seasoned player in big games for Ulster, it would be a big step for centre Postlethwaite, who has started just four games in his senior career and has yet to see any action in a knockout game for the province.
Meanwhile, there is also considerable doubt over locks Alan O’Connor and Kieran Treadwell, who were removed during the loss to Munster with a head knock and a calf problem respectively.
Those two injuries are of particular concern given that Ulster are down to the bare bones in the second row, with club captain and Ireland international Iain Henderson out for the remainder of the campaign as well.
While Harry Sheridan seems a certainty to step in if required, the bigger question surrounds Cormac Izuchukwu who could switch back into the second row, however there would be an understandable hesitancy on Richie Murphy’s to make that move given how the 24-year-old has been outstanding at blindside flanker.
It may be a case of needs must, however, as keeping Izuchukwu in the six jersey would mean Murphy would have to either award Matty Rea a first start at lock since the opening game of the season or grant a first ever start to one of his Academy prospects, either Joe Hopes or Charlie Irvine, should both O’Connor and Treadwell miss out.
The province did not reveal if there would be any players returning to the panel for selection, with winger Rob Baloucoune believed to be nearing a return, while loosehead prop Callum Reid and flanker Sean Reffell both featured in last week’s ‘A’ friendly against the Ireland Under-20s.