Keith Wood, who has not started an international in 11 months, has been included in the 22-man Ireland squad that will tackle Wales at Lansdowne Road tomorrow week.
After a prolonged period on the sidelines, nursing a troublesome shoulder injury, Wood is back at full tilt and in line to lead Ireland out against the Welsh.
Coach Eddie O'Sullivan will name his side next Tuesday but it is anticipated Wood will be handed back the captaincy in his first appearance in a green jersey since the World Cup qualifying match against Russia last September.
There are also recalls for stand-in skipper Brian O'Driscoll, Anthony Foley and Shane Horgan, who all missed the southern hemisphere tour through injury.
Ireland face Steve Hansen's Wales in the first of three World Cup warm-up matches. Italy will be next up for O'Sullivan's side at Thomond Park on August 30th before travelling to face Scotland in Murrayfield a week later.
O'Sullivan will name his 30-man World Cup squad on September 7th before the squad depart for Australia on September 29th.
Forwards: Simon Best (Ulster - Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster - Greystones), Victor Costello (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres), Anthony Foley (Munster - Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster - St. Mary's College), Donnacha O'Callaghan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Paul O'Connell (Munster - Young Munsters), Malcolm O'Kelly (Leinster - St. Mary's College), David Wallace (Munster - Garryowen), Keith Wood.
Backs: Paul Burke (Harlequins), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Anthony Horgan (Munster - Cork Constitution), Shane Horgan (Leinster - Lansdowne), David Humphreys (Ulster - Dungannon), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Geordan Murphy (Leicester), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Blackrock College), Peter Stringer (Munster - Shannon).