Mickey O'Connell will make his competitive return for the Cork senior hurlers in Sunday's Allianz NHL Division 1A clash with Offaly (Birr, throw-in 2.30pm).
The Midleton clubman, who turned 29 last month, opted out of inter-county hurling in the aftermath of the Rebels' 2004 All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny.
But manager John Allen has included him at midfield for the trip to the midlands. In all, Allen has made six personnel changes from last weekend's challenge match defeat to Limerick.
The All-Ireland champions welcome back goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack, who replaces former minor and intermediate star Anthony Nash, while Peter Kelly makes way for Shane O'Neill at left wing back.
O'Connell partners Kieran Hartnett, an indirect replacement for Niall McCarthy, at centre-field. In attack, Graham Callinan, Ronan Conway and Joe Deane come in for Niall Ronan, Kieran McGann and Conor Cusack, a brother of goalkeeper Donal Óg.
O'Neill, Hartnett and Conway were all members of the Cork side that won the Munster Under-21 Championship last season.
Allen is minus the talents of Ronan and 2005 captain Sean Óg O hAilpín, who are both injured, Brian Murphy and Brian Corcoran, who are both out of the country, and Pat Mulcahy and the O'Connor twins, Ben and Jerry, who are busy spearheading Newtownshandrum's bid for All-Ireland Club glory.
CORK XV v Offaly: D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, K Cronin, C O'Connor; D O'Sullivan, R Curran, S O'Neill; K Hartnett, M O'Connell; T McCarthy, G Callanan, R Conway; K Murphy (Sarsfields), K Murphy (Erin's Own), J Deane.
