Brian O'Driscoll will lead Ireland in their World Cup opener against Namibia after recovering from his fractured sinus.
ODriscoll suffered the damage in Irelands fractious warm-up game against French club Bayonne last month and was expected to miss the clash against the Pool D minnows in Bordeaux.
But the Leinster centres rehabilitation has progressed ahead of schedule and head coach Eddie OSullivan has restored him to the starting line-up.
Leicesters Geordan Murphy is relegated to the bench to make room, Andrew Trimble of Ulster moves to the right wing and Munsters Brian Carney drops out of the squad.
In another timely lift for Ireland, David Wallace has been named at openside after the dynamic Munster forward was finally passed fit following a six-month battle with a chronic ankle injury.
Wallace has not played a Test since the final RBS 6 Nations match against Italy in March and missed the whole of the build-up to the World Cup.
But the 31-year-olds six-month enforced international exile is over after the medical team gave him the all clear to start Irelands World Cup campaign.
Wallaces inclusion means Neil Best of Ulster must settle for a place among the substitutes with his provincial team-mate Stephen Ferris losing his place on the bench.
Overall the team shows just three changes, one positional, to the side that scraped past Italy 23-20 in the final warm-up match.
OSullivan has been able to name a near full-strength side with only Leinster winger Shane Horgan unavailable.
Horgan sustained an ankle injury while warming up for last months defeat by Scotland but is expected to be back to face Georgia in Irelands second Pool D clash.
OSullivan said: We wanted to start the competition strongly so weve picked our strongest available side.
The warm-up matches didnt have any bearing on my team selection - we want to put our best foot forward in the first game.
Well see how this game unfolds before deciding on what team to pick for Georgia. We dont want to get too far ahead of ourselves.
Everyone is keen to get on the field and get some games under their belts.
OSullivan revealed Denis Hickie missed training on Thursday through illness but expects the Leinster winger to be ready to face Namibia.