Andy Farrell has made six changes to his starting XV for the visit of Italy, with Ulster pair Robert Baloucoune and Cormac Izuchukwu in line for Guinness Six Nations debuts.
Twenty-eight-year-old Baloucoune, who won the last of his four caps against Fiji in 2022, replaces Tommy O’Brien on the right wing, while Izuchukwu starts at 6 with Josh van der Flier dropping out of the 23.
Offaly’s Izuchukwu, 26, made his debut against Fiji in November 2024 and played against Georgia and Portugal last summer.
Captain Caelan Doris moves to 7 with Jack Conan promoted from the bench to number 8 from the side that lost to France 36-14 in round one.
There’s a recall for wing James Lowe, who comes in for Jacob Stockdale, Craig Casey is named at scrum-half with Jamison Gibson-Park on the bench.
James Ryan partners Joe McCarthy in the second row with Tadhg Beirne starting on the bench for the 2.10pm Saturday kick-off at Aviva Stadium.
Munster lock Edwin Edogbo (below) is set for his international debut after being named among the replacements.
Jamie Osborne is retained at full-back in the continued absence of injured pair Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen, while the centre partnership of Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose goes again.
Leinster’s Sam Prendergast is named at out-half.
The front row of loosehead Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan and Thomas Clarkson keep their starting jerseys, with fit-again Tadhg Furlong named on the bench with Ulster prop Tom O’Toole and hooker Rónan Kelleher providing bench cover.
Nick Timoney, who scored Ireland’s first try in Paris, is among the forward replacements with Jack Crowley taking the 23 shirt in the 6:2 bench split to take on Gonzalo Quesada’s side, who beat Scotland 18-15 last weekend.
Head coach Farrell said: “Saturday provides us with a great opportunity in front of a packed home crowd at Aviva Stadium.
“We’ve had some great battles against Italy in recent years and Saturday will be no different.
“We know we have to reach a consistently high standard and that’s the exciting challenge that awaits us.
“There has been a positive reaction in training this week and we’ll aim to keep on building into the weekend.
“In congratulating all of the 23 on their selection, I would like to single out Edwin [Edogbo] on his first selection for the senior team.
“A product of the club game with Cobh Pirates and UCC, he has shown real quality in his performances for Munster and in training with us over recent times.
“We will aim to make it a special day for Edwin, his family and all those who have played a part in his journey to date.”
Italy have stuck with a winning line-up, making only a single enforced change from the side that beat Scotland.
Leonardo Marin moves from full-back to centre to replace Juan Ignacio Brex, who asked to be excused from the trip to Dublin for family reasons that have not been disclosed.
Lorenzo Pani comes off last weekend’s replacement bench to take up the number 15 slot for Saturday’s game in his first start in almost two years.
That means there is no place in the matchday squad for full-back Ange Capuozzo as well as scrum-half Stephen Varney, who both returned from injury this week.
Capuozzo has not played this year since breaking a finger playing in the French Top 14 league while Varney has been nursing an adductor injury.
Coach Gonzalo Quesada will be looking to use Brex’s absence to pair Marin, who has played across the backline for Italy, with Tommaso Menoncello, who he has suggested in the past could become a regular midfield combination for the Italians.
Quesada has gone for a 6:2 split among the replacements with David Odiase one of two changes on the bench as an extra forward while Paolo Odogwu is a utility pick for backline cover, along with reserve scrum-half Alessandro Garbisi.
Additional reporting: Reuters
Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley.
Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolo Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo Odogwu.
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