Ulster coach Mark Anscombe has a few injury worries

ULSTER are without a few key players for Friday night’s Heineken Cup clash against a Glasgow at Ravenhill.

A preliminary squad has been named but missing are:

* Luke Marshall who will be out for up to six weeks after fracturing his finger during Ulster’s recent PRO 12 victory over Scarlets.;

* Adam D’Arcy joins Marshall on the sidelines with a fractured ankle.

D’Arcy will see a specialist later this week and hopes to when he will be able to return to action.

He sadi: “I am extremely frustrated with my fractured ankle. But I am going to hard to get back fit and play some part of this promising season.”

On a brighter note for Ulster fans, Dan Tuohy, whose has had a recurring caf injury which popped up against the Scarlets, has been named in the squad although he will be watched over by the medical team.

Also included is Jared Payne, who missed the clash with the Welsh side because of a groin strain.

Ahead of Friday’s clash at Ravenhill, all their fitnesess will be thoroughly tested before coach Mark Anscombe picks his team to line out in front of a packed house.

But their fitness will be tested throughout the week before a decision to play them is made.

Said Anscombe: “Dan and Jared both muscular injuries so we’ll lighten the workload for them this week and see how they respond to that.

“And we’ll make a call later in the week if they’re going to be up and ready for Friday night.

“You know we’re comfortable with the players that come in and replace those injured and to survive you’ve got to have depth and we’re comfortable with our depth at the moment and it gives them an opportunity and we’ve just got to go about our work and believe in what we’ve got to do.”

Hooker Rory Best said that Glasgow could prove a dangerous side to play on Friday.

“They have nothing to play for so that leaves them that they can go and play a bit of rugby and when this Glasgow team plays rugby they’re a lethal team,” he said.

“We need to make sure that we put a lot of pressure on them and keep the squeeze on them and ultimately bring a bit of physicality and a bit of edge and when we’ve brought that this season we’ve won the game.”

Glasgow are yet to register a win despite coming close on all four occasions, especially in their nail-biting back-to-back games against Castres.

Ulster will know, however, that if they can secure a win at Ravenhill, they will be in poll position to top their group.

Preliminary Squad

Forwards (16): Callum Black, Tom Court, Declan Fitzpatrick, Adam Macklin, John Afoa, Rob Herring, Rory Best, Lewis Stevenson, Dan Tuohy, Iain Henderson, Neil McComb, Mike McComish, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson, Nick Williams.

Backs (11): Ruan Pienaar, Paul Marshall, Michael Heaney, Paddy Jackson, Paddy Wallace, Darren Cave, Michael Allen, Craig Gilroy, Andrew Trimble, Chris Cochrane, Jared Payne.