Ulster winger Zac Ward is a doubt for Saturday's United Rugby Championship fixture with the Bulls in Pretoria.

Ward injured his ankle in Saturday's Challenge Cup victory over Zebre in Parma having started the match on the left wing.

Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney missed the win in Italy, but Ulster hope both will be available for selection to face the Bulls, who are coming off a 56-20 Champions Cup win over Stade Francais.

Forward Ben Donnell, back-three player Ethan McIlroy and second row Eli Snyman will be monitored throughout the week after resuming training.

Ulster are still without Eduardo Bello, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, James Hume, Charlie Irvine, Aitzol Arenzana-King, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Callum Reid and Bryn Ward.

Richie Murphy's side face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (12:45 BST) before travelling to Cape Town, where they will take on the Stormers on 31 October (12:45 GMT).

Ulster sit 11th in the URC table after two draws and a defeat from their opening three games.

The Bulls, beaten finalists last season, and Stormers lie third and fourth in the standings having both won two out of three.

Ulster beat the Bulls 28-7 in Belfast last season and drew 38-38 with the Stormers. Last year's South African trip yielded a 34-26 win over the Sharks in Durban and 49-31 defeat by the Lions in Johannesburg.