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Shane Horgan will return on the right wing for Ireland, replacing Andrew Trimble, to start the Six Nations rugby match against France at Croke Park on Monday (NZT).
Leinster winger Horgan missed Ireland's first match of the tournament against Wales last weekend while he recovered from knee surgery but the side survived a fierce challenge in Cardiff without him, emerging 19-9 winners.
Coach Eddie O'Sullivan has left two starting places vacant in a squad of 25 -- at halfback and centre -- due to doubts over the fitness of captain Brian O'Driscoll and Peter Stringer.
If the damage to O'Driscoll's hamstring rules him out for Monday, Geordan Murphy will start on the wing with Horgan moving to centre to partner Gordon D'Arcy, the Irish Rugby Football Union said.
Monday's match will be the first rugby international played at Dublin's Croke Park, the traditional home of Gaelic football and hurling, as Lansdowne Road is being rebuilt.
Ireland:
Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, (to be confirmed), Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie, Ronan O'Gara, (to be confirmed), Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Simon Easterby, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, John Hayes, Rory Best, Marcus Horan.
Reserves:
Jerry Flannery, Simon Best, Mick O'Driscoll, Neil Best/Jamie Heaslip, Isaac Boss/Eoin Reddan, Paddy Wallace, Geordan Murphy/Andrew Trimble.
- REUTERS
