ROBBIE Kempson, the former South Africa prop who spent three months with Newport four years ago, faces an anxious wait to see if he can return to Rodney Parade on Sunday with Ulster, writes Robin Davey.

Kempson, who has been with the Northern Ireland Province for the past two years, was cited for head butting in last Friday's match against Borders in the Celtic League and faces a disciplinary hearing in Dublin tonight.

Ulster are challenging the citing and believe Kempson is not guilty of the offence. He has been named in a strong side to face Newport Gwent Dragons in the Heineken Cup.

If he is found guilty by the disciplinary panel, however, Kempson will have to pull out of the game.

He was the last of a string of South Africans to link up with Newport under Gary Teichmann, but was unable to stay and had to return home.

David Humphreys, Ireland's most capped outside half, is expected to make it on Sunday after pulling out of the Borders game with a calf injury.

He had a scan this week which revealed no damage and he will take a full part in training on Thursday night.

Skipper and flanker Andy Ward had to leave training early yesterday suffering from a heavy cold.

Ulster try a new and potentially dangerous centre partnership in Ryan Constable and New Zealander Paul Steinmetz against the Dragons.

Constable is the leading try scorer in the Celtic League this season with eight, nabbing two of them against the Borders.

Steinmetz is a former All Black, capped once by New Zealand and playing in his fourth match for Ulster.

Returning World Cup players scrum half Neil Doak, prop Simon Best and lock Gary Longwell are all in the Ulster team after featuring in the 46-5 win over Borders which maintained their lead at the top of the Celtic League.

They are a vastly experienced European team, having won the tournament in season 1999/2000, and Sunday will mark their 46th game in the Heineken Cup. They have scored 79 tries and 987 points.

Dragons captain Andy Marinos expects a tough game.

"Ulster lead the table and are playing very good rugby," he said, "but we have played them already so we know a bit about them and it will be a home start for us."

Ulster: B Cunningham, J Topping, R Constable, P Steinmetz, T Howe, D Humphreys, N Doak, R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, R Frost, G Longwell, A Ward (captain), N Best, R Wilson.