Challenge Cup final: Montpellier v Ulster – How missing quartet can still play a role in final

Henderson, McCloskey, Stockdale and Herring won’t be on the pitch in Bilbao, but they will still have a role to play.

Looking at the squad which faced Exeter, the last time three of the four played together, the inexperience of the squad as a whole is on show.

Of the 20 remaining players, only Werner Kok and Nick Timoney are over the age of 30. Ireland international Timoney joins Tom O’Toole, Nathan Doak and Michael Lowry as those with at least a century of Ulster appearances.

“It’s tough on Stu and a couple of other older lads that have been around the squad for way longer than any of us who are playing. Cup finals don’t come around often,” added Hume.

“Everyone understands that and have given them a decent bit of support.

“They’ve been great around the squad, just trying to keep in the changing rooms, trying to be around the squad and team meetings and stuff, helping where they can.”

Head coach Richie Murphy added that losing the quartet was “not ideal”but they were still involved in preparations.

“Those four guys are working really hard to try and prepare the guys and help them be at their best on Friday,” he said.

“You look at it and our four most experienced players, who have been in the place so long, are going to miss the final, which is not ideal for us, but the opportunity is then passed on to other people.

“What we want to try and do is make sure that we go there, make sure we attack the game and give the best account of ourselves.

“If that isn’t enough then we’ll have to take it, but if we can do that then we’ll cause a little bit of trouble.”