Stormers v Ulster: Rob Herring returns but Iain Henderson out

Ireland hooker Rob Herring will return from injury to captain Ulster against the Stormers in South Africa, but Iain Henderson misses out through illness.

Wing Robert Baloucoune returns while Nathan Doak will start at fly-half.

World Cup-winning Springbok Steven Kitshoff starts at prop against his former side in Cape Town.

The match is Richie Murphy's second as interim head coach, with his first outing ending in a 22-12 defeat by the Sharks.

South African side Stormers are fifth in the United Rugby Championship table, two places ahead of Ulster.

Herring returns to action after injuring his bicep in January while Baloucoune will make his first appearance since Ulster's European defeat away to Harlequins.

The match will be Ulster's first since chief executive Jonny Petrie departed the province on Monday. Hugh McCauley has been appointed as his interim replacement.

Flanker Hacjivah Dayimani will win his 50th cap for the Stormers, who defeated Edinburgh 43-21 on Saturday.

Warrick Gelant returns at full-back, which means two-time World Cup winner Damian Willemse will move into centre.

Ulster back row David McCann says he believes this Saturday's encounter with the Stormers will be "just as physical" as the match against the Sharks.

"It'll be different because the humidity and the heat isn't as great here, which means we should have a bit more energy, a bit more power in us," said McCann.

"I think we just need to be more accurate in our phase attack. That means just getting into our shape earlier, be smarter, that would allow us to get our breakdown better and get our timing better."

McCann already sees the influence Murphy is having on the group after just a few weeks.

"It's been enjoyable because it's new ideas and new ways of looking at things. It gives people energy and makes people think in a different way.

"I can see that once we bed these things in and give them time and really come to grips with it we'll start to see results on the pitch.

"Richie has been very clear about what he wants from us and what he expects from us and it's up to us to deliver on those.

"It may take a little bit of time but you can start to see in training those things we've been talking about are definitely coming into play."

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune; Hume, McCloskey; McIlroy; Doak, Cooney; Kitshoff, Herring (capt), O'Toole; Sheridan, Treadwell; Matty Rea, McCann, Timoney.

Replacements: Stewart, Warwick, Wilson, Izuchukwu, Marcus Rea, Shanahan, Flannery, Moore.

Stormers: Gelant; Hartzenberg; du Plessis, Willemse; Zas; Libbok, de Wet; Harris, Dweba, Fouche; Moerat (capt), van Heerden; Engelbrecht, Dayimani, Roos.

Replacements: Kotze, Lyons, Malherbe, Smith, Dixon, Theunissen, Jantjies, Loader.