Ulster's Paul Shields could make his debut against Australia

Ulster hooker Paul Shields could be making his international debut when Ireland face Australia at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Ballymena player was named among the Ireland replacements on Thursday to face the World champions in a one-off Test in Perth.

Shields is joined by Emmet Byrne, Eric Miller and Paul O'Connell as forward replacements.

Lions wing Tyrone Howe, who suffered a major hamstring tear early last season, is also included in the back replacements with Ronan O'Gara and Guy Easterby.

Shields is the only uncapped player in Ireland's match squad.

He gets his chance in the absence of Munster's Frank Sheahan, who returned to Ireland at the beginning of the week to face a ERC independent judicial tribunal after testing positive for salbutamol which was contained in his asthma medication. Shields will be the first player from Royal Belfast Academical Institution to be capped since Peter Russell back in 1992.

Shields played for Instonians before moving to Ballymena the season before last and has won seven Ireland 'A' caps.