One final opportunity, one last match to offer an irresistible argument to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan for inclusion in the 30-man World Cup squad that will be announced on Sunday.

Ireland play Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, the final leg of a trio of warm-up matches, intent on maintaining the unbeaten run that has accounted for Wales and Italy to date.

There are nine changes from the team that thrashed Italy 61-6 at Thomond Park on Saturday as several first team regulars return to the fray. Keith Wood resumes the captaincy and Ronan O'Gara returns following injury, while Anthony Horgan gets a chance on the wing, and O'Sullivan opts for a new look backrow of David Wallace, Eric Miller and Victor Costello.

While several will be delighted to have been afforded a chance to copper-fasten a plane ticket to Australia, the next five days will be excruciating for a handful of players. The consolation of playing in the Celtic League at the weekend will hardly soothe frayed nerves.

O'Sullivan contends that he hasn't made up his mind about the Australian-bound 30, but for players like Donncha O'Callaghan, Alan Quinlan, Rob Henderson, Leo Cullen, Jonathan Bell, Gary Longwell, Tyrone Howe, Neil Doak and Gordon D'Arcy their absence from the travelling Irish party for the Murrayfield match suggests that their fate is pretty much decided.

Geordan Murphy is restored to the full back role with Girvan Dempsey dropping to the bench, while Horgan is included on the wing in place of the injured John Kelly. Kevin Maggs resumes his midfield partnership with Brian O'Driscoll.

O'Gara's return marks the end of a six-week period of frustration in which the Munster outhalf was sidelined with a broken bone in his hand. He sustained the injury in a tackle while playing against Tonga during Ireland's summer tour. He lined out the following week, heavily strapped, against Samoa, contributing an Irish record 32 points.

It wasn't until he returned home that the problem was diagnosed and his wrist immobilised in a cast. "I only touched a ball two days ago in training but everything has gone well. I know I'll be lacking a little match sharpness come Saturday but it's a relief to be back playing."

O'Gara is pragmatic about the Scotland game, focusing on the need to do the basics well and gradually acclimatising again to international rugby.

He's isn't nervous - "I've matured in the last 18 months" - and that peace of mind is buoyed by "the best pre-season (training) I've ever had."

His attitude and that of those who stayed on to face Tonga and Samoa on the second two legs of Ireland's summer tour was noted by coach O'Sullivan. O'Gara was given the option of returning home but one reason he stayed was to work on his defence against two of the most physically punishing sides in world rugby. He didn't miss a tackle in two games.

"(On Saturday) I can't expect to go out and dominate the game. I have to be realistic and build from there."

Peter Stringer reclaims the scrumhalf berth with Guy Easterby resuming bench duties. The front row sees just one change, the return of Wood to both team and captaincy.

The Irish hooker conceded he wasn't happy with his performance against Wales, acknowledging that it was difficult to go straight into an international following a long period on the sidelines through injury without the buffer of about 10 club games, as would have been the norm in the past.

His body "ached a bit" in the aftermath of the Welsh game but in the interim has started to recover a lot quicker after training. Asked to quantify his match fitness in terms of a percentage, he settled for 60 to 70. In terms of the bigger picture he pointed out that Saturday's game wasn't a typical Test match and that really all the players wanted the game over, the squad announced, and to have made the 30.

This wouldn't, however, distract them from seeking a win at Murrayfield.

Paul O'Connell and Malcolm O'Kelly are restored to the second-row engine room but it is the backrow that might raise one or two eyebrows.

Wallace is named at blindside, the Miller experiment at openside continues, while Costello's dislocated finger, sustained against Italy, won't preclude him from lining out at number eight.

O'Sullivan probably tires of the cross-examination he receives every time he reshuffles his backrow but as he points out, the greater the versatility players show, the more compelling the argument for including them in the World Cup squad. It is reasonable to expect that will swap positions from time to time on Saturday.

Every top country in the world tries to blur the lines in terms of conventional allocation of positions. Players need to be multi-functional and the Irish variety should be no different.

Suggesting it's a big game for Wallace, and several others for that matter - Kieron Dawson and Simon Easterby will be craving game-time - is merely stating the obvious.

Drinking in the Last Chance Saloon. O'Sullivan will call time on Saturday evening.