He will be partnered in midfield by Jared Payne who switches from fullback to outside centre.
In the back three, Ricky Andrew starts at fullback, Craig Gilroy, who also represented the Wolfhounds, is selected on the left wing and Michael Allen returns to the starting XV on the right.
With Paddy Jackson on international duty, James McKinney is named at outhalf where he will start alongside Ruan Pienaar, who is selected at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Tom Court joins Rob Herring, and John Afoa in the front row, Johann Muller partners Lewis Stevenson in the second row and Robbie Diack, Sean Doyle and Roger Wilson form the back row.
Iain Henderson and Luke Marshall have been released by Ireland and are named on the bench. Ireland under20s fullback, Rory Scholes, is also named as a substitute and is in line to make his league debut if called upon.
The match is a sell out, the ninth game that has been sold out at Ravenhill this season. There are fewer than 500 tickets remaining for next week's RaboDirect PRO12 game against Scarlets. Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster or at ulsterrugby.com.
Ulster XV and replacements to face Ospreys, RaboDirect PRO12, Ravenhill, Friday 7th February (kick off 19:35): R Andrew, C Gilroy, J Payne, D Cave, M Allen, J McKinney, R Pienaar; (1-8): T Court, R Herring, J Afoa, J Muller (Captain), L Stevenson, R Diack, S Doyle, R Wilson; Replacements (16-23): N Annett, C Black, R Lutton, I Henderson, N Williams, P Marshall, L Marshall, R Scholes.
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