Australia prop Angus Bell and center James Hume have been ruled out of Ulster’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday.
Both players have missed the game through injury after being forced off in the United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster in April.
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On Tuesday, Ulster said Bale would be assessed for a foot injury, while Hume had neck discomfort, but neither player was fit enough to feature.
Wales second-row Dafydd Jenkins will captain Exeter, who are missing the suspended back-row of Ethan Roots, Greg Fesilau and Paul Brown-Bamp.
Exeter are targeting a first trophy since winning the Premier League title in 2022-23 and first European success since winning the Champions League in 2020.
Ulster’s last trophy came in 2006 when they won the Celtic League Championship.
The winner will face Montpellier or Dragons in the final on May 22 in Bilbao.
line-up
Ulster: Lowry; Z Ward; McCloskey, Postlethwaite; Stockdale; Murphy, Doc; Crean, Stewart, O’Toole’ Henderson (captain), Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus.
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Alternatives: McCormick, O’Sullivan, McAllister, Irving, B Ward, McGee, Flannery, McIlroy.
Exeter Chiefs: Hammersley; Liddell; Slade, Ikito; Faye Waboso; Skinner, Varney; Theo, Norey, Tsumbaze; Jenkins (captain), Zambonin; Hooper, Tshiunza, Vincent.
Alternatives: Deweba, Berg, Joseph Scott, Tuima, Wally Brady, Kelens, Haydn Wood, Lilly.
Ulster injured
Head coach Richie Murphy made 14 changes as the Irish province reached the semi-finals for the first time in four years after a young Ulster side were beaten by Munster.
Australian Bale has made a huge impact in Belfast since joining from the Waratahs on a short-term deal until the end of the season, with Sam Crean tasked with filling the 25-year-old’s shoes.
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Tom Stewart and Tom O’Toole were in the front row for Crean, with captain Ian Henderson and Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row.
Nick Timoney returns from injury and joins David McCann and Juano Augustus in the back row.
Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy will start at centre-back, while Stuart McCloskey and the returning Jude Postlethwaite will feature at half-back.
Jacob Stockdale, Zach Ward and Michael Lowry rounded out the bottom three.
Bryn Ward was another casualty of the loss to Leinster and was fit enough to take his place on the bench.
Exeter Chiefs will be without suspended Ethan Roots [Getty Images]
Exeter went into the competition after a thrilling 44-41 quarter-final win at Benetton, following consecutive defeats to Northampton Saints and Gloucester.
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Head coach Rob Baxter has named a strong front row, with Scott Sio returning along with Bachuki Tchumbadze and hooker Max Norey, while Jenkins and Andrea Zambonin are locks in the starting lineup.
With Roots suspended and Fisilao sidelined with a knee injury, Christ Tshiunza started on the open wing, with Tom Hooper and Ross Vintcent completing the starts.
Stephen Varney and Harvey Skinner, who have combined for 24 assists this season, start at centre-back, while Ryan Ikito forms an experienced center partnership with Henry Slade.
In-form Emmanuel Faye-Waboso has been named on the left wing and has scored four tries in all appearances since being ruled out for England’s Six Nations with a hamstring injury.
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Brown-Bambo is set to return to action, with Campbell Liddell moving from full-back to the wing and Ben Hammersley at full-back.
