Ben White: Forward set for Newport Gwent Dragons bow at Ulster

Australian-born flanker Ben White formerly played at Cardiff Blues, and in Australia for ACT Brumbie

Loan signing Ben White could come straight into the Newport Gwent Dragons starting team for their re-arranged Pro12 fixture in Ulster on Friday.

White, who made 50 appearances for Cardiff Blues, has joined Dragons from Exeter Chiefs for a three-week spell.

The 32-year-old is likely to start at blindside flanker for Dragons.

"He's going to be great for us, he'll bring a real 'dog' to the team," said Dragons centre Adam Hughes, who was a team-mate of White's at Exeter.

"He's got a good engine, he won't stop working and he'll compete for everything."

Number eight Taulupe Faletau is on international duty with Wales while back row Lewis Evans is out with calf trouble,

Crosswell and Ed Jackson are both doubts as is captain T Rhys Thomas, who suffered a dead leg in the win over Leinster.

Fit-again Rhys Buckley is on stand-by for a squad place if Thomas does not make it while hooker Elliot Dee is likely to start.

Fifth-placed Ulster won the teams' previous meeting this season 19-12 at Rodney Parade in November.

Centre Hughes, who re-joined Dragons on a permanent deal from Exeter in December 2015, is looking forward to the partisan atmosphere at the Kingspan Stadium.

"It's probably my favourite place to go as an away ground, the atmosphere is great with the new stadium as well so it's a great arena to play in," Hughes said.

"I've got close to it [winning] a few times but [Ruan] Pienaar has smashed our dreams a few times.

"We've always fronted up, it's not a place where we've been smashed or really struggled, we've always stepped up to the plate."

The match is likely to be the 15th time in a row that Hughes and Adam Warren have been selected to start together at centre, after injuries to Wales hopeful Tyler Morgan and Jack Dixon.

"The main reason I came east was to get more game time, and I've got loads of games so far," said Warren, who joined in the summer of 2015 from Scarlets.

"Since Adam has come, we've built a good little partnership, we read each other quite well and defensively we keep that link as much as we can."