The 46 times-capped centre has recovered from a hamstring injury that forced him to miss last weekends defeat in France.

The British Lion will make his first Test match appearance since the World Cup, as one of two changes coach Eddie OSullivan has made two changes following that 35-17 reversal.

OSullivan has dropped Bath centre Kevin Maggs and Leinster lock Malcolm OKelly, who boast 119 caps between them.

Maggs makes way for ODriscoll, who will form an all-Leinster midfield combination alongside Gordon DArcy.

Munster lock Donncha OCallaghan replaces OKelly.

It will be 24-year-old OCallaghans first Test start after winning all eight of his previous caps off the bench. He teams up with Munster second-row colleague Paul OConnell.

Maggs and OKelly drop down to replacement duty, and there is no place in the 22 for Munster wing Anthony Horgan, who went on as a second-half substitute in Paris.

Ireland are bidding for a fifth successive victory over Wales.

Ireland team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Lansdowne Road, Dublin: G Dempsey (Leinster); S Horgan (Leinster), G DArcy (Leinster), B ODriscoll (Leinster, capt), T Howe (Ulster); R OGara (Munster), P Stringer (Munster); R Corrigan (Leinster), S Byrne (Leinster), J Hayes (Munster), D OCallaghan (Munster), P OConnell (Munster), S Easterby (Llanelli Scarlets), K Gleeson (Leinster), A Foley (Munster).

Replacements: F Sheahan (Munster), S Best (Ulster), M OKelly (Leinster), V Costello (Leinster), G Easterby (Rotherham), D Humphreys (Ulster), K Maggs (Bath).