Murphy returns to fullback, Lobbe captains Pumas

Ireland v Argentina: Ireland coach Declan Kidney has dispensed with the services of Grivan Dempsey for Saturday's crucial Test against Argentina, preferring Geordan Murphy at fullback. Murphy's inclusion is one of three changes for the match at Croke Park with Jerry Flannery and Stephen Ferris also returning to the starting XV.

Murphy might have been forgiven for assuming his face didn't fit with the new coach after playing no part in the matches against Canada and New Zealand. But Kidney has opted call on the attacking prowess of the 30-year-old with Dempsey dropping out of the match 22 altogether.

Jerry Flannery, a second-half replacement against the All Blacks, gets the nod over Rory Best on this occasion and Malcolm O'Kelly could win his 92nd cap as he returns to the replacements bench to provide cover in the secondrow.

"Geordan has been playing well. Full-back is an area that is highly competitive at the moment," said Kidney today. "We felt it was tight over who would start in the last two weekends and Geordan is the right man for the job against Argentina.

"He is a good reader of the game. He has his strengths and like all players he has things that don't go his way.

"He has been around that long that everyone knows what he can do."

Ferris, man-of-the-match against Canada, returns at blindside flanker in place of the suspended Alan Quinlan. The Munster backrow may yet play some part having appealed against the three-week ban he received for stamping and a vacancy has been left on the replacements bench. Quinlan's appeal will be heard tomorrow.

"Stephen started against Canada. He played well and I had that in mind before last night's hearing," said the coach. "Jerry played very well against Canada and Rory played well last week. It's not that Rory has done a whole lot wrong, it's just a judgment call."

With Ireland's position in the second tier of nations for next month's World Cup draw reliant on a home win, there is a huge amount of pressure on the home side. Argentina may never have won in Dublin but have triumphed in the last three meetings between the countries.

"It's going to be very physical. Argentina do have a way of keeping the scoreboard ticking along," said Kidney. "They have a strong set-piece. You don't get to be ranked fourth in the world by having a bad side."

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has named a formidable pack this afternoon, with a particularly dangerous back three in Martín Durand, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamón at number eight.

Lobbe captains the side in the absence of Leinster playmaker Felipe Contepomi, who was ruled out after a cut to his right hand became infected. His absence has had repercussions in the backline.

Contepomi usually operates at inside centre but his place will be taken by Miguel Avramovic, who has yet to feature on the tour and will be partnered by Federico Martín Aramburú. Francisco Leonelli replaces the latter on the wing.

After starting both, fullback Bernardo Stortoni makes way for Horacio Agulla who was on the wing in Marseille.

Rafael Carballo retains his place on the left wing after a try against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ireland: G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), L Fitzgerald (Leinster), R Kearney (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), T O'Leary (Munster); M Horan (Munster), J Flannery (Munster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), M O'Kelly (Leinster), AN Other, E Reddan (Wasps), P Wallace (Ulster), K Earls (Munster)

Argentina: Horacio Agulla; Francisco Leonelli, Federico Martín Aramburú, Miguel Avramovic, Rafael Carballo; Juan Martín Hernández, Nicolás Vergallo; Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Juan Pablo Orlandi; Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, Patricio Albacete; Martín Durand, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (captain), Juan Manuel Leguizamón. Replacements: Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Marcos Ayerza, Esteban Lozada, Álvaro Galindo, Agustín Figuerola, Santiago Fernández, Bernardo Stortoni.