Murphy counting the cost of injuries before Connacht

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy says he has "a good compliment to pick from" for their United Rugby Championship game against Connacht, despite a host of players missing through injury.

Murphy confirmed that James Hume, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan and Jude Postlethwaite were injured in the 40-19 win over Edinburgh at the weekend while Irish contingent Robert Baloucoune, Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney will play no part in Friday night's game at the Affidea Stadium.

Ulster have been boosted by the return of Irish trio Tom Stewart, Nathan Doak and Jacob Stockdale, who did not feature in the final game against Scotland, while Tom O'Toole is set to be available.

Murphy believes those additions will strengthen his depleted squad.

"We've picked up a few knocks at the weekend and have a few who have picked up head knocks; James Hume, Cormac Izuchukwu and Dave Shanahan. Jude has a hand injury which is being assessed at the minute, but it will probably rule him out of the game," Murphy told BBC Sport NI.

"[Baloucoune] He's picked up an elbow injury, we don't know where he's at with that but he's due a week off so that will be assessed across this week.

"I think players will come back with a lot of confidence, any that have played down in Irish camp have done really well, so getting that back into our squad as well as our own squad performing pretty well in Edinburgh at a tough place at the weekend and showing how they stuck to task, some of the young lads did unbelievably well."

Ulster are third in the URC table after Saturday's bonus-point victory and have a Challenge Cup round of 16 game against Ospreys to come next month.

Murphy wants his side to push on and end the season well now the Six Nations has ended, starting with a win over ninth place Connacht, who they beat 29-24 in Galway earlier in the season.

"It's really important we focus on getting back to our week-to-week process and trying to accumulate as many points as we can and that cup run that's coming up pretty soon is going to be exciting," Murphy added.

"Connacht will love the idea of coming up and upsetting us. We obviously got one over them down there earlier in the season so a lot to play for this week.

"The away points we picked up last week become really important after you win your home games, it makes you feel you've made ground, so huge task this week."