Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak has been passed fit to start against La Rochelle in Friday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final.

Doak injured his ankle in the round of 16 win over Ospreys but has recovered to start in Belfast alongside the returning Jack Murphy.

However, hooker Rob Herring is not in the matchday squad after he picked up a calf injury.

Tom Stewart will start in place of Herring, and he is joined in the front row by Australia prop Angus Bell and Tom O’Toole.

Cormac Izuchukwu will make his 50th Ulster appearance in the second row with captain Iain Henderson, while David McCann, Nick Timoney and Juarno Augustus make up an unchanged back row.

Stuart McCloskey and James Hume retain their places at centre, while Zac Ward comes in on the wing as Jacob Stockdale shifts to full-back and Werner Kok completes the back three.

Harry Sheridan has returned from suspension to take his place on the bench while centre Jude Postlethwaite is also named after he sustained a hand injury against Edinburgh in March.

Ronan O’Gara has made three changes to his La Rochelle side, who beat Newcastle Red Bulls 26-18 in the last-16.

Kirill Fraindt comes in at flanker and Lucas Andjisseramatchi shifts to number eight, while Watisoni Waqanisaravi drops out of the matchday 23.

In the second row, Aleksandre Kuntelia replaces Simon Huchet and Ugo Pacome comes in on the right wing for Jules Favre.

La Rochelle are without some key players including captain Gregory Alldritt, Nolann Le Garrec, Antoine Hastoy, Jack Nowell, Australia second row Will Skelton, back row Levani Botia and full-back Davit Niniashvili.

Ulster: Jacob Stockdale; Werner Kok; James Hume, Stuart McCloskey; Zac Ward; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu; David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus.

Replacements: James McCormick, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Bryn Ward, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite.

La Rochelle: Ihaia West; Ugo Pacome; Ulupano Seuteni, Adrien Seguret; Hoani Bosmorin; Diego Jurd, Thomas Berjon (capt); Louis Penverne, Gabin Garault, Karl Sorin; Thomas Lavault, Aleksandre Kuntelia; Edouard Richer, Kirill Fraindt, Lucas Andjissermatchi.

Replacements: Tolu Latu, Christian Luaki, Joel Sclavi, Alexandre Kaddouri, Nikolozi Sutidze, Judicael Cancoriet, Sacha Elissalde, Nolhann Couillaud.