DUBLIN-Brian O'Driscoll will lead Ireland's team against Scotland in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match in Edinburgh, coach Eddie O'Sullivan announced on Tuesday.
O'Driscoll, who will captain the side for the 38th time, returns to play in the centre at Murrayfield for the first time since last season's Six Nations championship.
"Some may not have expected (Paul) O'Connell and O'Driscoll to start but they need to get on the pitch," O'Sullivan said.
With the current 37-man squad to be trimmed to a final 30 on Sunday, the Ireland coach added that his back row was "causing the greatest headache" at the moment.
"This is more than a warm-up match for the World Cup, for some it's a one-off game before the squad is selected," he said.
The flankers and number eight position are the most keenly contested with 14 players effectively competing for nine places in the squad destined for France.
Leinster's Jamie Heaslip starts at number eight flanked by Ulster pair Neil Best and Stephen Ferris while Heaslip's team mate Keith Gleeson and Munster's Alan Quinlan should be introduced from the bench.
In the backline Ulsterman Tommy Bowe and rugby league convert Brian Carney start on opposite wings vying for the remaining understudy role behind first choice wide men Denis Hickie and Shane Horgan.
Geordan Murphy, Gavin Duffy, Paddy Wallace and Isaac Boss, part of the squad which played Argentina in a test series earlier this year, make up the remainder of the back line.
Team: 15-Geordan Murphy, 14-Brian Carney, 13-Brian O'Driscoll, 12-Gavin Duffy, 11-Tommy Bowe, 10-Paddy Wallace, 9-Isaac Boss, 8-Jamie Heaslip, 7-Stephen Ferris, 6-Neil Best, 5-Paul O'Connell, 4-Malcolm O'Kelly, 3-Simon Best, 2-Jerry Flannery, 1-Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16-Rory Best, 17-John Hayes, 18-Alan Quinlan, 19-Keith Gleeson, 20-Eoin Reddan, 21-Ronan O'Gara, 22-Shane Horgan.
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