Tipuric’s return is a massive boost for head coach Toby Booth with the flanker returning to start after spending three-months out with a thumb injury he picked up away to the Dragons earlier in the season.
Nicky Smith also returns from a shoulder problem to start at loosehead, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front three.
James Ratti partners with on loan Cheetah Victor Sekekete who will make his debut at lock. Harri Deaves lines up at six, with Tipuric on the other flank, whilst Morgan Morse is released from Wales under-20s duty to start at eight.
Reuben Morgan-Williams gets the start at scrum half, with Dan Edwards partnering him at 10 off the back of signing a new deal with the region. Without George North and Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams lines up at inside centre with Dom Morris returning from injury to take up the 13 jersey.
In the back three, Jack Walsh starts at full back, with Keelan Giles on one wing and Mat Protheroe on the other.
Alex Cuthbert returns to the 23 following his injury with Evardi Boshoff in line to make to make his debut off the bench.
Ospreys starting XV:
15. Jack Walsh, 14. Mat Protheroe, 13. Dom Morris,12. Keiran Williams, 11. Keelan Giles,
10. Dan Edwards, 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams
1. Nicky Smith, 2. Sam Parry, 3. Tom Botha, 4. James Ratti, 5. Victor Sekekete, 6. Harri Deaves,
7. Justin Tipuric (captain), 8. Morgan Morse
Replacements:
16. Lewis Lloyd, 17. Rhys Henry,18. Ben Warren,19. Lewis Jones, 20. Will Hickey, 21. Cameron Jones, 22. Alex Cuthbert, 23. Evardi Boshoff
Head Coach, Toby Booth, said:
“It’s the same whenever you play an Irish Province really, you get a very committed bunch of people that are highly skilled and extremely physical.
“Ulster are a quality team, they’re robust and they are going to try and make life difficult for you. They start games well, so one of the first challenges for us will be to deal with that.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
