Curious Andy Farrell is keen to see how a number of players picked to face Wales take their chance on Friday night after making seven changes for the Aviva Stadium clash.
Leinster sensation James Lowe makes his debut on the wing in the Autumn Nations Cup opener, while his provincial colleague Jamison Gibson-Park gets his first start after two good showings off the bench at the tail end of the Six Nations, with Conor Murray benched.
Chris Farrell is also handed his opportunity as Bundee Aki's replacement at inside centre and Peter O'Mahony and Josh van der Flier are recalled to the back row, with Will Connors and CJ Stander left out.
Also in the pack, Ronan Kelleher and Iain Henderson return after injury and suspension respectively, while Billy Burns and Keith Earls are back involved in the matchday 23 after injury.
“I'm always curious about other guys who have been waiting for a chance," said Ireland boss Farrell.
"We'll see if they can grab it with both hands and you have got to give people the opportunity to do that.
"We've got a squad that we have picked for this Autumn Nations window and we want to put faith in the squad.
"There are some lads who have been in the squad for quite some time and who have been patient and we trust them to perform at this level.
"Having said that, there are still lads in th squad who don't get an opportunity this weekend and they are in our thoughts as well.
“It's a good side and one I'm excited about, that's for sure. Some people were waiting for their chance to show what they are about and others have got another chance so it is a good blend and one that can put in a performance.”
Ireland fans have been waiting for Lowe to become eligible after three years residency, and that time finally came last week.
“He brings an extra dimension to how we want to play," acknowledged Farrell.
"We have all seen him play PRO14 and what it means for Leinster so hopefully he can bring the same.
"Hopefully on top of that he brings extra competition for places in our squad which is very important for us going forward.”
On Gibson-Park's inclusion for Murray, the long-standing no 9, Farrell commented:“Jamison gets an opportunity to see how he can handle a full game.
"He has been coming off the bench and doing pretty well. In training he has been with us for three weeks now and we have been very impressed with what we have seen so far.
"Managing a game throughout and not in training is something we are curious about. We are excited to see how we play.
"He's a little bit different to some of the other scrum-halves so that's a good one.”
Remarking on Caelan Doris switching from blindside to no 8 in place of Stander, Farrell said: “There obviously are differences with set piece plays and how he goes about his business.
"Caelan has grown up being a no 8 and if you'd asked him which was his favourite position I'm not sure which answer he would give you - I suppose he would play anywhere for Ireland but it's a position in which we have seen him excel before.
"It's a position we have seen CJ Stander dominate in and play unbelievably well for us in the past and certainly will do again in the future but Caelan gets the chance this weekend.”
Overall, Farrell's number of debut selections could stray into double digits by the end of the year.
“It is certainly the way it has happened in the sense that we have had quite a few injuries and also there are injuries to guys who would have been in our plans going forward as well," he said.
"You can work them out for yourselves but it is what it is. We are planning for the here and now and for the future.
"That's what we plan to keep on doing throughout".
Ireland: J Stockdale, H Keenan, R Henshaw, C Farrell, J Lowe, J Sexton, J Gibson-Park; C Healy, R Kelleher, A Porter, I Henderson, J Ryan, P O'Mahony, J van der Flier, C Doris.
Replacements: D Heffernan, E Byrne, F Bealham, Q Roux, W Connors, C Murray, B Burns, K Earls.
