Rhys Ruddock will captain Ireland against Italy as Munster duo Jean Kleyn and Mike Haley get set to make their Test debuts.
Second row Kleyn will start at lock alongside Devin Toner, while full-back Haley is included on the bench.
And it is Leinster flanker Ruddock who is tasked with captaining the side, as he did against the Azzurri in Chicago last November.
Ruddock starts in the back row alongside Jordi Murphy, at No.8, and Tommy O’Donnell, with Jack McGrath, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter making up the front row.
In the half-backs, former Leinster teammates Luke McGrath and Joey Carbery are reunited, while Chris Farrell lines up alongside Garry Ringrose in the midfield.
And it is a new-look back three named with Jordan Larmour at full-back with Andrew Conway and Dave Kearney on the wings.
As well as Haley, the bench also features Connacht duo Kieran Marmion and Jack Carty, while Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne are both named as the Ireland coaches make the most of their versatility.
The rest of the bench is made up of front-row trio Niall Scannell, Cian Healy and John Ryan.
Ireland team to face Italy:
15. Jordan Larmour (Leinster) 14. Andrew Conway (Munster) 13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster) 12. Chris Farrell (Munster) 11. Dave Kearney (Leinster) 10. Joey Carbery (Munster) 9. Luke McGrath (Leinster)
1. Jack McGrath (Leinster) 2. Rob Herring (Ulster) 3. Andrew Porter (Leinster) 4. Devin Toner (Leinster) 5. Jean Kleyn (Munster) 6. Rhys Ruddock (Leinster) (c) 7. Tommy O’Donnell (Munster) 8. Jordi Murphy (Ulster)
Replacements
16. Niall Scannell (Munster) 17. Cian Healy (Leinster) 18. John Ryan (Munster) 19. Iain Henderson (Ulster) 20. Tadhg Beirne (Munster) 21. Kieran Marmion (Connacht) 22. Jack Carty (Connacht) 23. Mike Haley (Munster)
