Team news: Leinster flanker Shane Jennings has been drafted into the Ireland starting XV to face Australia in place of the injured David Wallace who picked up a calf strain.
Wallace had a fitness test in Melbourne this morning but his injured calf showed signs of distress and was immediately ruled out by the team medical staff.
With Jennings starting at openside for Ireland, his position among the replacements is taken by Stephen Ferris, who was a late call up to the squad for the injured Alan Quinlan.
Interim coach Michael Bradley said the loss of Wallace was a huge blow for the side, but he expects Jennings to step up and fill the void with ease.
"David has had a very good season with Munster and with Ireland. He played very well last week against the All Blacks so he will be missed," said Bradley.
"But Shane Jennings is a fine player and this creates an opportunity for him. Shane is a quality player and it will be a big test for him."
Captain Brian O'Driscoll was disappointed at losing a player of Wallace's experience, but said there was enough quality in the side to cover for him.
"We are quietly confident that we will cause them a few problems," said O'Driscoll.
"We have got two very good playmakers in Ronan (O'Gara) and Paddy (Wallace) and hopefully they will be able to run a line or two."
While the battle in the halves will go a long way in deciding the winner of the clash, O'Driscoll believes Ireland need to control the tempo up front to come out victorious.
"Physicality is what wins games," added the captain. "It's often talked about skill levels and tactics and everything, but if you win collision zones whether you have the ball or not, if you win more than 50 per cent of them, you are off on the right foot.
"There have been games when we have played as considerable underdogs and we have just gone out and overpowered the opposition and I think if you need to do that every time you go out and play.
"It's a hell of a lot harder to defend than to attack and it starts from one to eight. Packs win games and if we win the game tomorrow I am sure it will be largely down to our front eight."
Ireland take on Australia at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne tomorrow (11.05 Irish time).
Ireland team(v Australia): Robert Kearney, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (Captain), Paddy Wallace, Tommy Bowe, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer, Marcus Horan, Rory Best, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Stephen Ferris, Eoin Reddan, Geordan Murphy, Girvan Dempsey
- Additional reporting PA
