David Wallace will pull on an Irish jersey for the first time since last September when Eddie O'Sullivan's Triple Crown chasing side tackle Scotland on Saturday.
The Munster back-row will replace Keith Gleeson, who is nursing a broken arm sustained against Italy, for the all-or-nothing match at Lansdowne Road.
In the only other change to the starting line-up, Paul O'Connell returns to the second-row after missing the win over Italy with bruised ribs. He replaces Donncha O'Callaghan who drops to the replacements bench.
Wallace hasn't featured for Ireland since facing Scotland in the final World Cup warm-up against the Scots at Murrayfield and was subsequently left out of the squad destined for Australia.
Wallace found himself watching at home on television as Ireland advanced to the quarter-finals. He may yet gain ample compensation for that disappointment though because if Ireland are to record a massive win against the hapless and pointless Scottish side, victory for England over title favourites France in Paris could hand Ireland their first championship since 1985.
Even if the ultimate prize proves a step too far, O'Sullivan's side should still register their first Triple Crown for 19 years and only their seventh of all time.
Brian O'Driscoll becomes the third-quickest player in history to reach the 50-cap mark and Malcolm O'Kelly will pass another landmark, becoming the second most-capped Irish player with 64.
Ireland
15 - Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College)
14 - Shane Horgan (Leinster - Lansdowne)
13 - Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster - Lansdowne)
12 - Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Blackrock College) Captain
11 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Munster - Cork Constitution)
9 - Peter Stringer (Munster - Shannon)
1 - Reggie Corrigan (Leinster - Greystones)
2 - Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College)
3 - John Hayes (Munster - Shannon)
4 - Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster - St. Mary's College)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Munster - Young Munster)
6 - Simon Easterby (Llanelli)
7 - David Wallace (Munster - Garryowen)
8 - Anthony Foley (Munster - Shannon)
Replacements: 16 - Frank Sheahan (Munster - Cork Constitution), 17 - Marcus Horan (Munster - Shannon), 18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster - Cork Constitution), 19 - Victor Costello (Leinster - St. Mary's College), 20 - Guy Easterby (Rotherham), 21 - David Humphreys (Ulster - Dungannon), 22 - Kevin Maggs (Bath).
Not considered due to injury: Keith Gleeson (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Rob Henderson (Munster - Young Munster), Denis Hickie (Leinster — St. Mary's College), Anthony Horgan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Eric Miller (Leinster - Terenure College), Mike Mullins (Munster - Old Crescent), Alan Quinlan (Munster - Shannon).