One-time Australia prop Sam Talakai will make his Glasgow Warriors debut as Franco Smith's side kick off the defence of their United Rugby Championship (URC) title against Ulster on Saturday. 

The prop, who earned his Wallabies cap against Wales almost two years ago, only joined Glasgow last month having previously made 100 Super Rugby appearances, latterly with the Melbourne Rebels. 

Meanwhile it is set to be a big night for Zander Fagerson - who will likely replace Talakai at some stage of the match at Kingspan Stadium. If he is called upon, the Scotland international will make his 150th appearance for the club. 

The matchday 23 features 16 internationals, with Talakai packing down alongside Scotland pair Jamie Bhatti and Johnny Matthews in the front row, while an all-international front five is rounded off by Max Williamson and Richie Gray's partnership in the second row. 

Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge start on the flanks with Henco Venter stepping in at number eight in the absence of Jack Dempsey, who has a back problem. 

Behind the scrum, Jamie Dobie is given the nod at scrum-half, with Tom Jordan  preferred to Adam Hastings at fly-half. 

Sione Tuipulotu lines up at inside centre three years on from making his club debut on the club's last trip to Belfast, with Stafford McDowall his midfield partner. Huw Jones is another ruled out of the trip through a calf issue. 

The same back-three combination that started the 2023/24 Grand Final is selected for the opening match of the new campaign, as captain Kyle Steyn and Sebastian Cancelliere line up either side of fullback, Josh McKay.

On the bench, Fagerson could become just the 15th Glasgow player to his the 150-match milestone a decade on from his debut, while Hastings is set for a second debut having returned from Gloucester over the summer. 

Nathan McBeth and Gregor Hiddleston join Fagerson in providing front-row cover, while Alex Samuel, Gregor Brown and Euan Ferrie make up the rest of the forward replacements. Ben Afshar joins Hastings as the two backs in reserve.

Ulster, meanwhile, will be led by Ireland lock Iain Henderson, with three players - James McCormick, James Humphreys and Werner Kok - set for their debuts from the bench. 

The teams

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Werner Kok.

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn (captain), Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Sam Talakai, Max Williamson, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Henco Venter

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Nathan McBeth, Zander Fagerson, Alex Samuel, Gregor Brown, Euan Ferrie, Ben Afshar, Adam Hastings