Jared Payne starts at fullback, with Andrew Trimble and David McIlwaine on the wings. Chris Farrell and Luke Marshall are selected in the centre with Paul Marshall named at scrumhalf.
Callum Black and Ricky Lutton start in the front row, either side of Rob Herring who is picked at hooker. Captain Johann Muller and Dan Tuohy are paired in the second row with Robbie Diack, Chris Henry and Roger Wilson making up the backrow.
Nick Williams was not available for selection as he has returned to New Zealand for family reasons.
The game will be shown live via the BBC red button and online on the BBC Sport NI website.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Newport Gwent Dragons, RaboDirect PRO12, Rodney Parade, Friday 6th September (kick off 19:15);
(15-9): J Payne, A Trimble, L Marshall, C Farrell, D McIlwaine, P Jackson, P Marshall;
(1-8): C Black, R Herring, R Lutton, J Muller (Captain), D Tuohy, R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson;
Replacements (16-23): N Annett, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, S Doyle, I Porter, J McKinney, D Cave.
