Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has recalled Leinster centre Gordon D'Arcy for Sunday's RBS Six Nations clash against Italy at the Stadio Flaminio.
D'Arcy, last year's player of the championship, missed the November internationals through injury but has reclaimed his place in the line-up and will resume his midfield partnership with skipper Brian O'Driscoll.
Girvan Dempsey makes way for D'Arcy, the Leinster full-back must settle for a place on the bench, while Leicester star Geordan Murphy takes the number 15 jersey with Shane Horgan reverting to the wing.
The second change to the team who defeated Argentina in the autumn sees Wasps openside Johnny O'Connor lose out to in-form Munster back row Denis Leamy, who will win his second cap on Sunday.
O'Sullivan admitted the decision to drop Dempsey and O'Connor, who acquitted themselves well during the November clean sweep, was not an easy one.
He said: "Girvan has been a stalwart at full-back so it was hard to leave him out. He played in the autumn but with Gordon D'Arcy coming back we needed to shuffle things about. It was a tough call. This is the first occasion for some time that we've been able to select from a full deck. This is the strongest backline I've fielded."
"The back row is always going to tough. Johnny loses out, he acquitted himself very well against South Africa and Argentina but Denis has been chomping at the bit and has had a very big Heineken Cup."
Prop Reggie Corrigan will undergo a late fitness test after sustaining a knee injury with Marcus Horan on standby to take his place and Simon Best earmarked for the vacancy on the bench.
Second row Malcolm O'Kelly will make his 69th international appearance on Sunday, equalling the record set by Mike Gibson as Ireland's most capped player.
IRELAND TEAM TO PLAY ITALY ON SUNDAY:
G Murphy
S Horgan
B O'Driscoll (capt)
G D'Arcy
D Hickie
R O'Gara
P Stringer
R Corrigan
S Byrne
J Hayes
M O'Kelly
P O'Connell
S Easterby
D Leamy
A Foley
Replacements:
F Sheahan
M Horan
D O'Callaghan
E Miller
G Easterby
D Humphreys
G Dempsey
