Donnacha Ryan and Keith Earls will both end 29 months without Test rugby when they start Ireland's Rugby World Cup warm-up clash against Wales in Cardiff.
The luckless Munster duo's catalogue of injuries has kept both from Test action in the Joe Schmidt era, but now both men can state their World Cup selection case at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm).
Lock Ryan and centre Earls will make their first Test appearances since the 22-15 RBS 6 Nations defeat to Italy in March 2013, as head coach Schmidt hands fringe players the chance to impress.
Jamie Heaslip will captain Ireland on Saturday, the Leinster number eight and tighthead prop Mike Ross the only frontline stars to start against Warren Gatland's Wales.
After this weekend Ireland take on Scotland, Wales in a return clash in Dublin and England to complete their World Cup warm-up fixtures.
Boss Schmidt must submit his final 31-man World Cup squad on 31 August, leaving three matches for players to force their way into the reckoning.
Ulster centre Darren Cave has a real chance to impress at 12, in his first appearance since the November walkover against Georgia.
Veteran midfielder Gordon D'Arcy is not involved at all despite being fit for action.
Schmidt has given Ulster's Paddy Jackson the nod at out-half over Leinster's Ian Madigan, with the two facing a potential shoot-out over the last World Cup playmaking berth.
Powerful lock Ryan missed the bulk of last season with a toe injury branded "weird" by Munster boss Anthony Foley.
"Without being too dramatic about it yes, I did think I may not get another chance," said Ryan.
"Pre-season is always quite tough so I've just got to empty the tank and it's as much mental strength as anything."
Schmidt denied Saturday represents the one and only opportunity for a clutch of stars to prove their World Cup worth.
The former Leinster boss branded the Cardiff match "the biggest examination" after a gruelling six-week training stint.
For men like Ryan, Earls and Ulster centre Darren Cave however, this could well be their sole opportunity to force Schmidt's selection hand.
"I wouldn't say it's the one opportunity, they've worked really hard and we've taken note of how they've trained," said Schmidt.
"It's a very narrow window, but it is the litmus test, it is where we find out whether they can stay in the game and physically and mentally deliver what is required.
"It's probably the biggest examination but it's been an examination over the last six weeks."
Now the 31-year-old is finally fully fit, and despite his lengthy Test absence still has a realistic chance of forcing his way into Ireland's final World Cup ranks.
Schmidt also admitted Cian Healy's protracted recovery from neck surgery could pose a selection conundrum further down the track.
Ireland face England on 5 September, before opening their Pool D World Cup account against Canada on 19 September.
Schmidt conceded he remains unsure what approach he would take should Healy look likely to miss the England game but be expected to be ready to face Canada.
"We're just hoping the picture gets clearer as we get closer so that we can make a decision that would see him fully fit at least to start the tournament," said Schmidt.
"We play two weeks prior to the first game so if we thought he might not be fit for England but he would be fit for Canada I'm not sure what we'd decide."
Ireland XV: Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Iain Henderson, Donnacha Ryan, Jordi Murphy, Tommy O'Donnell, Jamie Heaslip, Eoin Reddan, Paddy Jackson, Fergus McFadden, Darren Cave, Keith Earls, Andrew Trimble, Felix Jones.
Replacements: Rory Best, David Kilcoyne, Michael Bent, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry, Kieran Marmion, Ian Madigan, Simon Zebo.
