O'Toole and Doak to start in Ulster's Dragons game

Tom O'Toole (left) and Nathan Doak (right) after both handed starts for Ulster after coming on as replacements in the last-gasp win over Scarlets two weeks ago

Ulster make three changes from the win over Scarlets two weeks ago for Saturday's crucial United Rugby Championship contest against Dragons which includes the return of prop Tom O'Toole.

O'Toole takes over from Scott Wilson, who drops to the bench, with David McCann replacing Matty Rea in the back row and Nathan Doak in for Conor McKee at scrum-half.

McKee made his competitive debut when starting against Scarlets but won't feature at Rodney Parade as John Cooney - whose departure at the end of the season was announced earlier this week - is named on the bench.

Doak will partner Ulster Academy fly-half Jack Murphy in the half-backs as Aidan Morgan is included in the replacements.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy admitted on Tuesday that his side "need to win" the contest against the bottom-placed club to maintain hopes of clinching a spot in the end-of-season play-offs.

The 12th-placed Irish province are only two points off a play-offs spot but losing to Dragons - who are marooned at the bottom of the table - would not be a promising sign in relation to Ulster's hopes of moving into the top eight with only five rounds of fixtures remaining after this weekend.

Ulster: Moore; Lowry, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Reid, Herring, O'Toole; O'Connor (capt), Dalton; McCann, Timoney, McNabney.

Replacements: Andrew, Crean, Wilson, Treadwell, Crothers, Cooney, Morgan, Ward.