It has been a demanding 12 months for Ireland's top rugby players.
Following the disappointing Six Nations campaign, there was Leinster’s march to two finals, a World Cup warm-up series and the latest World Cup quarter-final exit and the reintegration into provincial set-ups shortly before the latest European campaign.
Since the conclusion of last year’s Six Nations campaign, a 25-7 defeat at the Principality Stadium, no Irish player starting on Saturday has played more minutes than CJ Stander.
Taking into account Pro14, Heineken Champions Cup and international duties, the backrower has clocked a total of 1,585 competitive minutes of action.
The 38-cap international sat out just 27 minutes during Ireland’s five games in Japan, and of the players that began the heavy quarter-final defeat to New Zealand, only Jacob Stockdale (640) has played more provincial rugby this term.
Leinster pair Jordan Larmour and Garry Ringrose are next in the pecking order.
No one in Saturday’s XV has played more minutes this season (Andrew Conway has also played 480 minutes) than the full-back, while of centre Ringrose’s seven starts for Leinster this season, six have come in Europe.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed more time in green since the end of the Six Nations (534 minutes) than anyone else in Farrell’s maiden line-up.
The versatile Iain Henderson is the first forward to appear on the list, while his Ulster team-mate Rob Herring has had ample opportunity to catch the eye of Irish management ahead of assuming the number two jersey from Rory Best.
Herring, who didn’t make the World Cup cut but was called in as a replacement for Sean Cronin in Japan, has 942 provincial minutes under his belt this season, far and away the most by anyone in Farrell’s starting team.
Aside from the uncapped Caelan Doris however, the 29-year-old hooker has had very limited game time at international level, with two appearances in the past 25 months, the most recent a 19-minute cameo against Italy last August.
All eyes will be on Doris on his Ireland bow, but a continuation of his form in blue should stand the number 8 in good stead. The 21-year-old has amassed 744 minutes for Leinster this season and only the aforementioned Herring has more provincial game time.
James Ryan has finished 12 of the 17 games he has started for club and country since last year’s Six Nations campaign is the final player to have amassed more minutes (1244) than the team average 1224.
A back injury after returning from the World Cup has impacted Tadhg Furlong’s numbers, while enforced time on the sidelines sees Johnny Sexton at the bottom of the list.
The 34-year-old picked up a knee injury against Northampton, just his third appearance this term for Leinster, which at the time threatened his Six Nations participation.
Follow Ireland v Scotland (kick-off 4.45pm) on Saturday via our live blog on RTE.ie/Sport and the News Now app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport. Highlights on Against the Head, Monday at 8pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
