Ian Whitten is one of six new caps in the Ireland team to face Canada

Six players will make their debuts as Ireland play Canada in a match which coach Declan Kidney sees as the start of preparations for the 2011 World Cup.

Ulster pair Darren Cave and Ian Whitten wear a senior Ireland shirt for the first time in Vancouver (2200 BST).

The other new caps are Ian Dowling, Ian Keatley, John Muldoon and Niall Ronan.

"We would not have picked these fellows if we did not think they had potential, but it is important they bring it out on the big day," said Kidney.

"There are some players in Irish rugby who might not be around in two years' time.

"Our aim at the start of the season was to build a squad but with so many experienced players available, it has been difficult for some players to get experience of their own.

"This is an ideal tour for them as these are full Test matches and we will see how the players cope when they are exposed to the full rigours of Test match rugby.

"The game offers them a chance to put down a marker to challenge for places and we see this as the start of our preparations for Rugby World Cup 2011 and building a squad for that tournament."

Tom Court will start for Ireland for the first time at loose-head prop while Bob Casey bridges a nine-year gap by taking his place in the second row.

Niall O'Connor and Ryan Caldwell are among five uncapped players named among the replacements.

Sean Cronin, Mike Ross and Denis Hurley are the other potential new caps on the bench.

Captain Rory Best is partnered in the front row by Court and Tony Buckley, who starts at tight-head.

Mick O'Driscoll joins Casey in the second row for the match at Thunderbird Stadium while Denis Leamy completes a back row that also includes Connacht captain Muldoon and open-side Ronan.

Keatley forms a half-back partnership with Ireland's most capped scrum-half, Peter Stringer, while Cave and Whitten form an all-Ulster centre combination.

Munster supply both wingers for the game, with Barry Murphy lining out on the right wing and debutant Dowling on the left, with Gavin Duffy completing the backline.

Ireland's second tour game will be against the USA on Sunday 31 May.

Canada: Pritchard; van Camp, Hearn, Smith, van der Merwe; Spicer, Fairhurst; Tkachuk, Riordan (capt), Franklin, Hotson, Burak, O'Toole, Kleeberger, Carpenter.
Replacements: Tiedemann, Tait, Sinclair, Dala, Stephen, Mack, Monro.

Ireland: Duffy; B Murphy, Cave, Whitten, Dowling; Keatley, Stringer; Court, R Best, Buckley, Casey, M O'Driscoll, Muldoon, Ronan, Leamy.
Replacements: Cronin, Ross, Caldwell, Ryan, Reddan, O'Connor, Hurley.

Referee: Chris White (England)

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