With Kitshoff and Herring out, interim head coach Richie Murphy picks a changed front row with Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson named to start.
This is Murphy’s first home game since taking over following Dan McFarland’s departure.
Murphy lost both URC games in South Africa, and while that was followed by a win over Montpellier, last week’s defeat by Clermont ended Ulster’s Challenge Cup campaign.
Ulster are currently eighth in the URC table and need a win to boost their hopes of making the play-offs.
For Cardiff, fit-again Wales and British and Irish Lions number eight Taulupe Faletau is named in the line-up for the first time this season.
Ulster: Will Addison; Mike Lowry, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale; Jake Flannery, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart, Scott Wilson; Harry Sheridan, Alan O’Connor (capt); Dave Ewers, Marcus Rea, Dave McCann.
Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Greg Jones, John Cooney, Billy Burns, Ethan McIlroy.
Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Theo Cabango; Tinus de Beer, Ellis Bevan; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Rhys Carre, Evan Lloyd, Ciaran Parker, Rory Thornton, Ellis Jenkins, Gonzalo Bertranou, Jacob Beetham, Mackenzie Martin.
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (IRFU) and Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
