Tinkering with his line-up for the first time this tournament, head coach Declan Kidney has opted to freshen up the side as they close in on the Grand Slam.

D'Arcy comes in for Paddy Wallace at inside centre for his first Test start since breaking his arm in last year's RBS 6 Nations.

Veteran scrum-half Peter Stringer wrestles the number nine jersey from Tomas O'Leary, reward for his fine display as substitute in the 14-13 victory over England 10 days ago.

Kidney has made two changes up front with Rory Best displacing Jerry Flannery at hooker and number eight Denis Leamy usurping the in-form Jamie Heaslip.

Wallace, O'Leary, Flannery and Heaslip all drop to the bench.

Kidney said: "The four guys who have come in have been doing very well in training and have a done a good job whenever they've come on.

"The lads who are out have done nothing wrong. The new guys will bring their own chemistry to the team and have a wealth of experience, which we'll need against Scotland."

John Hayes will become Ireland's most capped player on Saturday having equalled against England the record of 92 appearances established by Malcolm O'Kelly.

It will be the 35-year-old Munster tighthead's 48th successive championship appearance - a remarkable achievement given he plays in the most demanding of positions.

Ireland are the only unbeaten team in this year's RBS 6 Nations with victories over France, Italy and England putting them on course for a first Grand Slam since 1948.

Success against Scotland would leave them with a likely title decider against Wales at the Millennium Stadium a week later.

Ireland team to play Scotland in the RBS 6 Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday, March 14, kick off 5pm:

R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O'Driscoll (Leinster, captain), G D'Arcy (Leinster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster); R O'Gara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O'Callaghan (Munster), P O'Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), D Leamy (Munster).

Replacements: J Flannery (Munster), T Court (Ulster), M O'Driscoll (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), T O'Leary (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), G Murphy (Leicester).