Stringer reclaims his number nine shirt after a difficult season

Veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer will start for Ireland in Saturday's Test against Australia in Melbourne.

Stringer takes over from Eoin Reddan in one of two changes made by interim coach Michael Bradley following the 21-11 defeat by New Zealand.

The other sees Ulster hooker Rory Best promoted to the starting side with Jerry Flannery, like Reddan, dropping to the bench as a consequence.

Alan Quinlan and Luke Fitzgerald were again not considered because of injury.

Bradley said the promotion of Stringer and Best was warranted and feels he has selected the best side possible to defeat the Wallabies.

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Both players were introduced as replacements during Saturday's defeat in Wellington.

"We went through every position and weighed up the pros and cons of the lads who are in the starting team and those that haven't participated in a game," Bradley said.

"Rory deserves a chance at the Test starting spot and Peter showed what he can do in the period of time against New Zealand."

Prop John Hayes and lock Donnacha O'Callaghan did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday but the duo are expected to line up against the Wallabies.

Saturday's match will be the first game in charge for new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and Bradley is expecting Australia to be an extremely difficult opposition.

"A new coach brings a fresh look so you would think there would be a new look to the Australian side," Bradley said.

Bearing in mind that it is the end of the season, we have curtailed the training for the last couple of weeks Interim Ireland coach Michael Bradley

"I am extremely wary of Australia when they get into their stride, so it's going to be a very difficult challenge for us this weekend."

With the Telstra Dome roof set to be closed for Saturday's match, Bradley is predicting a free-flowing game with plenty of tries.

And despite the fact that his players are coming to the end of their season, Bradley is not expecting fatigue to be a factor in the final stages of the match.

"Bearing in mind that it is the end of the season, we have curtailed the training for the last couple of weeks," Bradley said.

"Training sessions have been reasonably short and we have been checking for response from the lads on a daily basis as to how they are feeling.

"They are feeling as fresh as we think we can have them at this part of the season."

Ireland team to face Australia:

R Kearney, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (all Leinster), P Wallace, T Bowe (both Ulster), R O'Gara, P Stringer (both Munster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, D Leamy, D Wallace (all Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: J Flannery, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll (all Munster), S Jennings (Leinster), E Reddan (Wasps), G Murphy (Leicester), G Dempsey (Leinster).