Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda named his side to face Ireland at the Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez stadium on Saturday a day early, with a debut for Tomas De Vedia one of his boldest selections. Places in the autumn World Cup squad are up for grabs and the Saracens winger has been handed the chance to make a late bid.

Marcos Ayerza, who arrived in Santa Fe only yesterday, will start at prop, while Felipe Contepomi will captain a side shorn of a number of experienced players.

Loffreda has left a clutch of first-choice players out of his squad as he assesses his options ahead of the tournament in September but Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Martin Durand represent a strong backrow and Bristol fullback Bernardo Stortoni returns after 17 months out of the side.

Leeds forward Pablo Bouza insisted the nature of the side meant the players would be focusing on their own play. "We have to take into account everything on Ireland, but firstly we have to think about our own play. There are some players who have not been in the team for a long time so we have to try to build the team well."

ARGENTINA (v Ireland):B Stortoni (Bristol); T De Vedia (Saracens), M Avramovic (Worcester Warriors), H Senillosa (Hindu), F Leonelli (Glasgow Warriors); F Contepomi (Leinster, captain), N Vergallo (Jockey Club Rosario); JM Leguizamon (London Irish), J Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks), M Durand (Montpellier), E Lozada (CASI), P Bouza (Leeds), S Gonzalez Bonorino (Capitolina), A Vernet Basualdo (Alumni), M Ayerza (Leicester Tigers). Replacements: M Cortese (Northampton Saints), P Cardinalli (CSBJ Rugby), J Stuart (CASI), G Fessia (Cordoba Athletic), L Lopez Flemming (Edinburgh Gunners), J Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), H Agulla (Hindu).