Tadhg Beirne and James Lowe will start for Ireland in Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with Wales in Cardiff.
Leinster back Lowe gets the nod ahead of Jordan Larmour on the left wing and he will have Keith Earls and Hugo Keenan for company in the back three.
New Zealand-born Lowe won two caps in last November's Autumn Nations Cup but has not played since the defeat to England at Twickenham due to a groin issue.
Asked whether Lowe was a bolter, head coach Andy Farrell said: "Not really, not in our eyes.
"He's a great player, who is right for this game. When you select a side, first and foremost you are thinking what’s right for the side.
"He’s been in great form [in training]. He’s been seamless in getting back into action."
The rest of the backline is as expected with Conor Murray and captain Johnny Sexton at 9 and 10 respectively.
Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose are back in tandem in the centre, starting together for the first time since the World Cup quarter-final loss to New Zealand in 2019.
"They are both class players. It's a partnership, with the individuals themselves, that you would hope would grab hold of a competition like this and show everyone what they are about," said Farrell.
Cian Healy, Rob Herring and Andrew Porter make up the front row.
Prop Tadhg Furlong, who made a first appearance of the season for Leinster at the weekend, starts on the bench.
Munster lock Beirne will win his 18th cap after being rewarded for his club form and will partner James Ryan in the second row.
"It's always an opportunity, any time you get to put the jersey on. Tadhg will be like everyone else, he’ll want to perform for himself, but for the team first," added Farrell.
The absence of Caelan Doris through injury means CJ Stander reverts to 8, with Peter O'Mahony and Josh van der Flier, who is preferred to Will Connors, on the blind and open-side flanks.
"Josh was on the bench a couple of times in the autumn and came on and made some magnificent impacts," said Farrell of the call.
"He really punches on to the ball well but his all-round game is pretty strong and we felt he was the one to go with."
Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Furlong, Connors and Iain Henderson are the forward replacements, while Jamison Gibson-Park, Billy Burns and Larmour cover the backline.
Wales boss Wayne Pivac has selected Dan Lydiate in his team after an almost two-and-a-half-year absence while George North will start at centre.
Ireland have not beaten Wales in the championship in Cardiff since 2013, but have won the last four matches, including two World Cup warm-ups.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (captain), Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Andrew Porter, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Josh van der Flier, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Furlong, Iain Henderson, Will Connors, Jamison Gibson-Park, Billy Burns, Jordan Larmour.
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Follow Wales v Ireland (kick-off 3pm) on Sunday via our live blog on RTE.ie and the News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport. Highlights on Against the Head, Monday at 8.10pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
