Two Lions wing rivals will tackle each other in tonight’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash between Ulster and Cardiff Blues.
Tommy Bowe and Alex Cuthbert have been selected on opposite wings for the Ravenhill encounter.
Ulster have already qualified for the play-off places and Bowe, a Lions tourist to South Africa in 2009, is relishing the chance to rack up further game time ahead of the trip Down Under.
The Ireland star missed the entire RBS 6 Nations due to injury but has roared back to full fitness.
“I am getting match fitness now, we’ve a game this weekend, a semi-final the week after so hopefully I’ll get three more games under my belt before we tour,” said Bowe.
“That would be perfect.”
Cuthbert returns to action from his own hamstring injury. The Wales ace tore his hamstring while scoring two tries in the Championship deciding victory over England.
He admits the devastating performance at the Millennium Stadium in March is likely to have secured his place in Warren Gatland’s squad.
And he is relishing the opportunity to go head-to-head with the Ulster flier.
“That England game was big for everyone,” said Cuthbert.
“Warren had seen what I could do but I put my hand up a little more.
“It couldn’t have worked out any better for us. It was a shame I couldn’t play again until now but I guess I did enough
“Now the hamstring is good and I’m looking forward to getting back out there.
“The other wings in the squad are quality players. They’ve shown that over the last few years.
“Tommy’s coming back from his own hamstring injury and we all know about him. He’s definitely got the most experience of us
“Coming up against Tommy this weekend will be good fun.”
Cardiff have no chance of qualifying for the play-offs and have rested Cuthbert’s fellow Lions Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny and Jamie Roberts.
