Eddie O'Sullivan side will afford his front-liners some much needed match practice ahead of the World Cup, making just one personnel change for Friday's final warm-up match against Italy.
With Brian O'Driscoll joining Shane Horgan and David Wallace on the sidelines, Geordan Murphy is drafted into the starting line-up. Murphy will start on the right wing with Andrew Trimble moving to outside centre in place of the injured Irish captain.
Elsewhere, it's a case of as you were for O'Sullivan's XV, although Simon Best, Stephen Ferris, Brian Carney and Isaac Boss are called up to the replacement's bench.
Paul O'Connell takes over the leadership duties in O'Driscoll's absence while his Munster colleague Denis Leamy has recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered against Bayonne to retain his place in the team.
"It's pretty much a full-strength side from what we have. I am looking at what our best combinations will be in the centre if we have injuries and at the moment Andrew Trimble and Gordon D'Arcy are that and hopefully that will be proven on Friday night," said O'Sullivan this afternoon.
The coach admits he has somewhat of a square peg in a round hole with Neil Best at openside, but he expects to make alterations in the game.
"In these games there is still an element of looking at
combinations. Having injuries does force your hand into tinkering
with those combinations. We're without our openside Dave Wallace,
we have put seven on Neil Best's back but we might move those
around during the game in different situations."
Ireland's last game at Ravenhill was against Scotland in 1954
and O'Sullivan is looking forward to the match with a keen sense of
anticipation.
"It's a huge occasion, the tickets were sold out almost
instantaneously, there were queues around the corner and even when
extra tickets went on re-sale there was a huge scramble for them.
"There has been a huge interest with people at training every
day. It has been a great atmosphere and the weather has been
fantastic. It's been great for the lads to get that kind of
support before the game even kicks off.
"It's our final game before we head off to the World Cup, we
want to create an atmosphere where we're playing good rugby and
getting the crowd behind us.
"In the match last week against Bayonne we played two good
quarters and lost our shape, on Friday I'm hoping we keep our shape
for the whole game."
Italy are familiar foes and offer a step up in class after
the battle in Bayonne, in which O'Driscoll had his sinus bone
broken by lock Mikaera Tewhata in a bad tempered affair.
The captain has been ruled out of Ireland's World Cup opener against Namibia on September 9th but hopes to make the second pool match against Georgia on the 15th.
"Italy are a bigger ask than Bayonne and it will be all hands to
the pump but I'm hoping we hit the ground somewhat running and give
the crowd something to cheer about.
"Italy are good opponents because the one thing I want at
this time of the year is physicality. They are the most physical
team in the Six Nations, the morning after an Italy match you're
that bit more bruised and sore.
"When we played them in Rome we got our game plan just about
right," added the coach. "The game will have everything we want, it
will be robust, fast, intense and passionate and I think that is a
great way to get ready for a World Cup."
Ireland (v Italy): Dempsey; Murphy, Trimble, D'Arcy , Hickie; O'Gara, Stringer; Horan, R Best, Hayes; O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Easterby, N Best, Leamy. Replacements: Flannery, S Best, O'Kelly, Ferris; Boss, P Wallace, Carney
