Ulster hit by injuries and World Cup absentees

Ulster will be minus several injured players in addition to being without their World Cup contingent in Saturday's URC opener against Zebre.

The squad is further depleted by injuries to senior players John Cooney, Alan O'Connor and Luke Marshall.

Eric O'Sullivan, Sean Reffell and Greg Jones are also among the injured men.

Marty Moore remains unavailable for the Parma contest as he continues his rehabilitation from the serious knee injury he sustained against Munster on New Year's Day last while James McCormick will also not be considered for selection because of a shoulder injury.

Luckless Ireland centre Marshall is also out of contention as he undertakes graduated return to play protocols after sustaining another concussion.

Lock O'Connor and flanker Reffell both have ankle issues with O'Sullivan and Jones troubled by shoulder problems and scrum-half Cooney ruled out by a calf injury.

Ulster will be facing a Zebre side that lost all 18 of their URC fixtures season but with the Irish province set to be under-strength for the opener, the Italian may fancy their chances of causing an upset.

Zebre had five players in Italy's World Cup squad - Danilo Fischetti, David Sisi, Alessandro Fusco, Pierre Bruno and Lorenzo Pani - and it's not clear if any of them will be available for Saturday's game in Parma.