Gloucester welcome back wing Lesley Vainikolo for their Heineken Cup group clash with Ulster, from which the hosts need just a draw to progress.

The former rugby league star, who was recently named in England’s Six Nations squad, has not played since 29 December following the death of his father.

Skipper Rory Best makes a shock return for Ulster for Sunday’s game.

Originally omitted from the squad, the Ireland hooker is one of eight changes made by caretaker coach Steve Williams.

Ulster will be boosted by the return of Best, who was named in the Ireland Six Nations squad earlier in the week.

Best was not expected to return to action for another couple of weeks after injuring his ankle in the Boxing Day clash against Leinster in Dublin.

Chris Paterson starts at fly-half with Ryan Lamb dropping to the bench, and Rory Lawson also comes in at scrum-half as Gloucester aim to seal their place in the last eight.

Nick Wood and Olivier Azam return to the front row and Peter Buxton moves into the second row after Alex Brown broke his arm against the Ospreys, allowing Alasdair Strokosch to return at blind-side.

The match comes just 24 hours before Vainikolo joins England’s Six Nations squad at Twickenham.

Vainikolo said: “I have been fortunate to have received a great deal of support, but I am really happy to be back, be around the boys again and thinking about rugby.
“It is great I have an opportunity this weekend, and I want to go out and repay the faith people have in me.

“There is a job to do on Sunday and we must make sure we achieve it.”

A draw will guarantee Gloucester a place in the last eight of the competition, while victory will see them top Pool 2.

Ulster are bottom of the group with no chance of progressing, but a win will lift them to third if Bourgoin fail to beat Ospreys.

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