Humphreys will hope to captain Ireland to a famous win

Humphreys captains a side that shows six changes and two positional switches from the team that defeated the Wallabies 18-9 in Dublin last November.

Humphreys is handed the honour in the absence of the injured Brian O'Driscoll with James Topping, Geordan Murphy, John Kelly, and Marcus Horan and Alan Quinlan all in the starting line-up.

Humphreys will lead Ireland for the second time, after retaining the number 10 jersey that he wore throughout the Six Nations.

He will be winning his 53rd cap and will be returning home with at least 12 other players following the opening match leaving Ronan O'Gara to face Samoa and Tonga.

''Natually, I am delighted to be leading my country, particularly against the World champions,'' Humphreys told this website.

''We have quite a number of injuries, but I believe we still have a good strong side.

''There are a few changes in the backline, and Brian O'Driscoll is absent, but I think the threequarter-line that we have out will cause a few problems.''

Geordan Murphy plays in the unusual role of outsdie centre

His Ulster team-mate Topping will savour the occasion of winning his eighth cap despite having made his debut back in 1996.

Topping career features a litany of injury problems. However, he came back to devastating form this season, and returns to the international stage after a three-year absence.

Munster winger John Kelly inches in ahead of Tyrone Howe for the space vacated by the Denis Hickie who is also on the injured list alongside Shane Horgan, Justin Bishop, John Hayes, Rob Hednerson and Anthony Foley.

Leicester's Murphy comes into the outside centre berth to partner Kevin Maggs following the return to fitness of full-back Girvan Dempsey.

With Foley out, Victor Costello moves to number 8 with Alan Quinlan coming in at blindside forward.

Leinster skipper Reggie Corrigan will play tight-head for the first time in a Test to allow Marcus Horan to play on the left side of the scrum.

The only conerns that coach Eddie O'Sullivan has is over scrum-half Peter Stringer who was taken for a precautionary X-ray for a thumb injury.

Ireland: Girvan Dempsey, James Topping, Geordan Murphy, Kevin Maggs, John Kelly; David Humphreys (capt), Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Shane Byrne, Reggie Corrigan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Gary Longwell, Alan Quinlan, Keith Gleeson.
(Replacements to be announced on Thursday)