Paddy Wallace will start against Scotland on Saturday if inside centre Gordon D'Arcy does not shake off his knee injury in time for the final Six Nations game and Triple Crown match at Croke Park. The Leinster man will be given every chance to prove he has recovered from the "deep bruising" sustained in the win over Wales at the weekend.
Geordan Murphy retains his place at fullback with Rob Kearney offering cover for the back three from the bench. All of which means it's an unchanged side and bench from that which started the 27-12 win against Warren Gatland's side on Saturday.
Despite that, Declan Kidney insisted this afternoon that picking the team “took a fair bit of time”.
“Not so much because of the quality of the lads who were picked but due to the quality of the lads we haven't been able to give a start to in this particular game. Because there have been many of them who have been training really well.
"There were several lads that I wanted to give a go to but it’s just after falling this way, but it wasn't just a case of 'well we'll go with the same', there was a fair bit of thought and discussion that went into it.”
His decision to opt for Wallace as cover for D’Arcy, and not call Kearney into the back three and shift Keith Earls to the centre, was based on the form of the Ulsterman and the cover the Leinster back provides from the bench.
"Paddy has been playing very well at 12. When you pick your replacements it's always a very different dynamic than when you pick your starting XV.
"Starting XV is easy, it's position by position, but with replacements you have to try and get the best cover for the positions that you can around the place.
Quizzed as to whether he selected the team with the opposition in mind or because it was his best team, Kidney replied: "To me it’s the same thing.
“It's a huge match for us. Not alone is it a Test match representing Ireland but it's also our last match at Croke Park and there is a trophy at stake for us should we manage to get something out of it.
"What is the best XV? It's always difficult to say when you have the quality of the players available. The problem for me is who to leave out not who to pick.
"Whenever I announce these teams that's always the dilemma that lies with me.”
Vice-captain Paul O'Connell will win his 70th cap against the Scots and, in tandem with Donncha O'Callaghan, will be hoping for a dominant performance in the lineout like that which typified the win over the Welsh.
Ireland (v Scotland): G Murphy; T Bowe, B O 'Driscoll (capt), G D'arcy, K Earls; J Sexton, T O'Leary; C Healy, R Best, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Ferris, D Wallace, J Heaslip.
Replacements:S Cronin, T Buckley, L Cullen, S Jennings, E Reddan, R O'Gara, R Kearney.