Brian O'Driscoll has as expected recovered from a hamstring injury in time to face Wales in the Six Nations at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
The Leinster star narrowly missed out on the weekend defeat to France but having taken part in training sessions since Sunday is deemed fit enough to face the Welsh and start at inside centre.
O'Driscoll, who sustained the injury playing for Leinster against Sale in the Heineken Cup one month ago, reclaims the captaincy from second row Paul O'Connell who deputised at the Stade de France.
The captain's provincial team-mate Gordon D'Arcy keeps his place in the side and relegates Kevin Maggs, who in turn replaces Anthony Horgan, to the substitutes bench.
D'Arcy proved a success in Paris, in what was his first Irish start in the Six Nations, and lines up alongside O'Driscoll in the centre for what could prove an explosive partnership.
O'Driscoll said: "It's a very exciting prospect. Gordon is a confidence player and he is brimming with that at the moment."
"We might not have trained or played together in the centres before but we are both footballers and capable of reading each other's game when and where required."
Elsewhere, Donnacha O'Callaghan replaces Malcom O'Kelly in the second row and joins ranks with his Munster colleague O'Connell. O'Callaghan has earned all his previous eight caps as a replacement.
"Donnacha plays with a certain amount of abandon," coach Eddie O'Sullivan said. "He throws his body around and is a good line-out operator.
"He has been breathing down Malcolm's neck for a while now and I believe he is ready."
Winger Tyrone Howe and full-back Girvan Dempsey retain their places while Shane Horgan and John Hayes have recovered from slight knocks to line out at wing and prop respectively.
Following a diligent offering against the French, Ronan O'Gara keeps hold of the number ten shirt and will win his 40th cap on Sunday.
Wales coach Steve Hansen will release his team tonight.
Ireland (v Wales):G Dempsey; S Horgan, G D'Arcy, B O'Driscoll, T Howe; R O'Gara, P Stringer; R Corrigan, S Byrne, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Easterby, K Gleeson, A Foley. Subs - F Sheahan, S Best, M O'Kelly, V Costello, G Easterby, D Humphreys, K Maggs