Keatley gets Ireland No.10 jersey
Ian Keatley will start at flyhalf in Ireland's opening Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome on Saturday.
The Munster flyhalf got the nod ahead of Ian Madigan, to replace the injured Jonathan Sexton.
Sexton suffered a concussion when he clashed heads with teammate Rob Kearney as they combined to tackle Adam Ashley-Cooper late in Ireland's 26-23 win against Australia on November 22.
The concussion was Sexton's fourth of 2014 and prompted doctors to advise him to take 12 weeks out from the game - which rules him out until the second game of Ireland's Championship defence against France on February 14.
Keatley will be partnered at halfback by fit-again Conor Murray.
Another player back from injury is Leinster loose forward Sean O'Brien.
The British and Irish Lions flank is set to play his first Test since November 2013 - when Ireland begin the defence of their Six Nations title - following two shoulder reconstruction operations.
Ironically a shoulder injury to fellow back row Jamie Heaslip has paved the way for the 30-times capped O'Brien to return to the Ireland senior team, after the the 27-year-old ended his time on the sidelines when he ran out for the secibd-string Irish Wolfhounds against the England Saxons last month.
Paul O'Connell will captain the side in his 97th cap for his country and is partnered in the second row by Devin Toner.
The front row is made up of Jack McGrath, Rory Best and Mike Ross.
The back row consists of Peter O'Mahony, O'Brien and Jordi Murphy at No.8.
Murray and Keatley will form the halfback partnership, while Robbie Henshaw will line out at inside centre alongside Jared Payne, who will fill the No.13 jersey.
The back three sees Rob Kearney flanked by Tommy Bowe and Simon Zebo.
Among the replacements are Sean Cronin, James Cronin, Martin Moore, Iain Henderson, Tommy O'Donnell, Isaac Boss, Ian Madigan and Felix Jones.
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 James Cronin, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Tommy O'Donnell, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Felix Jones.
Date: Saturday, February 7
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15.30 (14.30 GMT; 14.30 Ireland time)
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Berry (SA)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)