Connacht wing Mack Hansen will make his Ireland debut in their Guinness Six Nations opener against holders Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
The 23-year-old is the sole uncapped player in an experienced matchday squad though two players, Dan Sheehan and James Hume, are set to make their Championship debuts off the bench.
Hansen slots into a backline which includes captain Johnny Sexton, who will be winning his 102nd cap this weekend and forms a half-back pairing with Leinster teammate Jamison Gibson-Park.
Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose make up a talented midfield pairing while Andrew Conway and Hugo Keenan, earning his 17th consecutive international start at full-back, join Hansen in the back three.
An all-Leinster front row sees Ronan Kelleher between Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, who scored last time these two teams met in Dublin in 2020 to help Ireland to a 24-14 victory.
Tadhg Beirne, the only non-Leinster player in the pack, joins forces with James Ryan in the second row in front of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.
The bench brings a mixture of youth and experience, with potential debutants Sheehan and Hume joined by 112-cap veteran Cian Healy and Munster pair Peter O’Mahony – sent off against Wales last year – and Conor Murray.
Ireland team to play Wales
15 Hugo Keenan (Leinster) 16 caps
14 Andrew Conway (Munster) 27 caps
13 Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 37 caps
12 Bundee Aki (Connacht) 33 caps
11 Mack Hansen (Connacht) uncapped
10 Johnny Sexton (Leinster) 101 caps CAPTAIN
9 Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 12 caps
1 Andrew Porter (Leinster) 40 caps
2 Ronan Kelleher (Leinster) 16 caps
3 Tadhg Furlong (Leinster) 52 caps
4 Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 25 caps
5 James Ryan (Leinster) 40 caps
6 Caelan Doris (Leinster) 12 caps
7 Josh van der Flier (Leinster) 35 caps
8 Jack Conan (Leinster) 22 caps
Replacements
16 Dan Sheehan (Leinster) 2 caps
17 Cian Healy (Leinster) 112 caps
18 Finlay Bealham (Connacht) 18 caps
19 Ryan Baird (Leinster) 6 caps
20 Peter O’Mahony (Munster) 79 caps
21 Conor Murray (Munster) 92 caps
22 Joey Carbery (Munster) 27 caps
23 James Hume (Ulster) 1 cap
